In the U.S., radioactivity is usually measured in units called "curies". Scientist can identify the different types of radioactive elements by measuring the characteristics of this energy. The energy can be in the form of a wave (for example, gamma rays) or a particle (for example, alpha and beta particles) or both. Radioactive substances are unstable in nature and release energy in a process called radioactive decay. What is radioactivity and how is it measured? The various forms of naturally occurring radium found in groundwater are radium 224, 226, and 228. Radium readily dissolves in groundwater where acid conditions (low pH levels) are found. This energy is part of the natural radiation to which all living creatures are exposed. As radium decays, it continually releases energy into the environment until a stable, nonradioactive substance is formed. Radium is a radioactive metal that occurs naturally in trace amounts in rocks, soils, and ground water. This fact sheet was prepared to answer questions about radium, possible health risks, and water testing and treatment options. This naturally occurring radium does not pose a health emergency and can be readily corrected. As a result, short term gross alpha testing is being required for new and replacement wells in northern Anne Arundel County (see attached map). These studies confirmed the presence of radium in northern Anne Arundel County, but only a small number of wells sampled outside of Anne Arundel County had elevated gross alpha levels. Follow-up studies were conducted for the Maryland Department of the Environment to define the distribution of elevated levels of naturally occurring radium in Anne Arundel County and determine if wells in these aquifers outside of Anne Arundel County have elevated levels of gross alpha radiation.
Environmental Protection Agency for drinking water. Fifteen of the twenty-two wells sampled in northern Anne Arundel County exceeded the level established by the U.S. Fifty private wells spread across the County were sampled. In 1998 Anne Arundel County conducted a pilot study of well water quality.
Connection to a public supply, purchase of bottled water, or drilling a well to a depth with lower radium levels are other alternatives for residents to obtain water meeting drinking water standards for radium. Home water treatment units (softening (ion exchange) and reverse osmosis) have been shown by follow-up testing to effectively remove radium from drinking water. Residents on private wells may have their water tested for gross alpha levels by contacting the Anne Arundel County Environmental Health Department or a private laboratory. This naturally occurring radium does not pose a health emergency and can readily be removed by water treatment. No wells in the Aquia aquifer or wells south of the testing line shown on the map have been found to have radium levels above drinking water standards. Short term gross alpha testing is being required for new or replacement wells in northern Anne Arundel County (see attached map). Deeper wells in Anne Arundel County tended to have lower radium levels. Well water with elevated radium also had low pH and/or increased salinity. However, only six of one hundred wells sampled outside of Anne Arundel County had gross alpha results above the drinking water standard. These samples confirmed the presence of elevated radium in many wells in northern Anne Arundel County. Water samples with elevated gross alpha levels are indicative of naturally occurring radioactive elements including radium 224 and radium 226.
Environmental Protection Agency for drinking water.įollow-up studies were conducted for the Maryland Department of the Environment to define the distribution of elevated radium in the Magothy and Patapsco aquifers of Anne Arundel County and determine if wells in these aquifers outside of Anne Arundel County have elevated levels of gross alpha radiation. Fifteen of the twenty-two wells sampled in northern Anne Arundel County had levels of naturally occurring radium that exceeded the level established by the U.S.
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