United States
             Environmental Protection
             Agency
             Office Of Water
             (WH-550)
570/9-91-600
June 1991
vvEPA
Reducing Your Exposure
To Radon

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        WHAT EPA IS DOING TO REDUCE RADON EXPOSURE
  Drinking Water

    — Propose standard in 1991; promulgate standard in 1993
    — Help States and systems implement new regulations
    — Conduct public education
    — Through mobilization, build partnerships to strengthen the
       ability of small systems to comply with new regulations

  indoor Air

    — Establish indoor air action level—4 pCi/l
    — Conduct public education
    — Recommend home testing and mitigation procedures
    — Certify measurement and mitigation contractors
    — Help States implement radon abatement programs
  PROPOSED NEW RADIONUCLIDE DRINKING WATER STANDARDS
• Proposes new standards for radon and uranium

• Proposes revised standards for radium, gross alpha emitters and
   beta and photon emitters
                               ^
• Proposed radon standard will

   — Reduce exposure for an estimated 17 million people
   — Result in avoidance of an estimated 80 cancer cases per year

• Proposed standards for other radionuclides will

   — Reduce exposure for an estimated 2 million people
   — Reduce uranium exposure for an estimated 875,000 people
   — Result in avoidance of an estimated 3 cancer cases per year

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      THE PRIMARY RADON HEALTH HAZARD COMES FROM
              BREATHING AIR CONTAINING RADON
• Indoor radon may result in 8,000—-40,000 lung cancer deaths annually

• The higher the level of radon, the greater the risk of developing
   lung cancer

• Smokers exposed to radon may have up to ten times the risk of
   contracting lung cancer as never-smokers exposed to the same
   radon levels

• Most radon in household air comes from soil gas that seeps into
   the home through the foundation

• Radon in water generally accounts for about 5% of the total indoor
   air concentration in homes with ground-water sources of drinking
   water.  It is released into indoor air during household water use
   such as showering and washing clothes

• Radon is not found in surface water

• On average, 10,000 pci/l radon in water contributes about 1 pCi/l
   radon to indoor air of a house
     WHAT YOU CAN DO TO REDUCE YOUR RADON EXPOSURE
• Test the indoor air of your home

• Test your water |f
   — The level of radon exceeds 4 pCi/l in the air and
   — You get your drinking water from a household well

• Take appropriate steps to mitigate radon in your home if the indoor air
   level exceeds 4 pCi/l

• Call 1-800-SOS-RADON or contact your State Radon Office to obtain
   information about radon in air

• Call the Safe Drinking Water Hotline (1-800-426-4791) or contact your
   State Drinking Water Office to obtain information about radon in
   drinking water

• Contact your local water supplier if you get your drinking water from
   a community system and you are concerned about the level of radon
   in your drinking water

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      THE HEALTH EFFECTS OF RADIONUCLIDES IN DRINKING WATER
  Radon
     • Lung cancer
     • Stomach and other cancer
 Radium
    • Bone and other cancer

 Uranium

    • Kidney toxicity
    • Bone and other cancer

 Gross Alpha Emitters

    • Cancer

 Beta and Photon Emitters

    * Cancer
Naturally Occurring

   • Radon
   • Radium
   • Uranium
   • Most alpha emitters
   • Some beta and photon emitters

Man-Made

   • Most beta and photon emitters
   • Some alpha emitters

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