The Navajo Nation in New Mexico used to have more than 700 Uranium mines. For decades, it was a primary source of Uranium during the nuclear arms race, providing jobs for the Navajo residents. However, the mining also brought great peril. On July 16, 1979, the Navajo Nation became the site of the largest radioactive Uranium spill in the history of the United States. The dam broke with a 20-foot breach, releasing 94 million gallons of radioactive waste to the Puerco River. As a result of all the mining and the spill, the air, land, and water were contaminated, leaving residents with polluted water and steep increases in illnesses such as cancer, as well as the loss of livestock.
The rush of toxic uranium-contaminated water was a fast-moving public health hazard producing immediate harmful effects. However, the residents of the affected areas did not receive warnings of the poisonous radioactive contamination of the lake for several days. They relied on the Puerco River for irrigation, livestock, and, most notably, their drinking water. Although all mining has ceased, and many years have passed, the residents of the Navajo Nation and the surrounding town of Church Rock, Mexico, are still dealing with the spill’s effects, which have yet to be adequately cleaned up.
What Is Uranium?
Uranium is a highly dense, silvery-white metal that occurs naturally in the Earth’s crust. It is a mixture of three isotopes, which gives natural Uranium its radioactive properties. Though the radioactivity of natural Uranium is considered weak, the isotope ratio determines its total radioactivity. It has several commercial applications, including nuclear power reactors, x-rays, photography, electron microscopy, nuclear weapons, nuclear fuel, and ceramics. The burning of fossil fuels, the overuse of phosphate fertilizers, and the mining of minerals may cause Uranium to enter water supplies.
Another form of Uranium used by the military in armor for tanks and armor-piercing ammunition is depleted Uranium (DU). Two of the three isotopes in natural Uranium are lessened in depleted Uranium. It is important to note that multiple forms of Uranium can be detected in drinking water, with three of the most common being U-234, U-235, and U-238. Uranium-234 is the most toxic to human health.
Over many years, the elements uranium and thorium slowly change and form decay products, which include radium and polonium. Energy is released during this changing process. As a result, one form of energy that is released is known as Gross Alpha Radiation. Because Uranium and Gross Alpha Radiation are present in the Earth’s crust, over time, they make their way into wells, springs, and groundwater, contaminating the drinking water.
Gross Alpha Radiation can seep into drinking water when wells are drilled near or into uranium-filled natural rock formations. As it decays, the radiation will continue to be released into the groundwater. The level of Uranium and Gross Alpha Radiation entering the water will vary as these radioactive elements differ in the Earth’s crust. Both Uranium and Gross Alpha Radiation pose adverse health risks when consumed in any amount.
Is It Safe To Have Any Uranium In Drinking Water?
In the United States, the Environmental Protection Agency or EPA regulates the levels of radioactive elements, including Uranium, Radium, and Gross Alpha Radiation, in drinking water. The EPA sets the standards at a maximum contaminant level or MCL of Uranium = 0.020 mg/L (milligrams per liter), Combined radium = 226/228 = pCi/L (picoCuries per liter), and Adjusted Gross Alpha = 15 pCi (picoCuries per liter). In Canada, the drinking water guidelines for Uranium are also set at Uranium = 0.020 mg/L. The World Health Organization (WHO) and The Center For Disease Control (CDC) set the standard for Uranium = 30 mcg/L (micrograms per liter) in drinking water.
The Environmental Working Group or EWG has developed its Health Guideline of Uranium = 0.43 pCi/L (picoCuries per liter), also defined as a public health goal by the California Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment. The EPA Maximum Contaminant Level converted to picoCuries per liter is Uranium = 20 pCi/L, while the EWG guide is set at 0.43 pCi/L. The EWG level is set significantly lower than the EPA level, creating fewer health risks for those who follow the EWG guidelines.
Uranium and its decaying by-product, Gross Alpha Radiation, are colorless, odorless, and tasteless and, therefore, cannot be detected in drinking water without proper water testing. Uranium is not absorbed through the skin, nor does it evaporate from water. When well or municipal water is tested, if the results show the radioactive elements are above the set MCL, the radiation source must be found and treated to lower the levels.
Exposure to Uranium can come from drinking or cooking with tainted water and causes much higher health risks the longer the exposure. Due to its natural occurrence, there will always be a small amount of Uranium in our bodies; some of the Uranium we drink gets absorbed by our digestive tract, while smaller amounts are quickly excreted. Elevated levels of Uranium in the body over long periods can cause irreversible damage to the body.
Alarmingly, when your drinking water contains Uranium, it may also bring poisonous gas known as Radon into your home. Radon gas is also a derivative of decaying Uranium; it is dangerously odorless, tasteless, and colorless.
So, if you discover Uranium in your drinking water, it is essential to test your home for Radon gas. The build-up of Radon gas in the air can lead to elevated radon levels throughout your home. Radon can cause devastating health issues by emitting harmful particles which primarily affect the lungs. The leading cause of lung cancer among nonsmokers is from Radon gas exposure.
Although no amount of radioactive Uranium or Gross Alpha Radiation should be present in your drinking water, whether due to its’ natural occurrence or industrial pollution, it is turning up in our drinking water. To fully ensure your drinking water is not contaminated with Uranium and putting you and your family at risk of severe health issues, investing in a home water purification system is becoming a necessary addition for home safety.
Health Hazards Of Drinking Uranium
Suppose you have been drinking water contaminated with Uranium or Gross Alpha Radiation. In that case, it is helpful to know that up to 70 % of the Uranium absorbed in the blood is filtered and cleared through the kidneys and is excreted in the urine within 24 hours. The Uranium that remains is distributed to other body organs, where it can accumulate over time and produce hazardous health issues.
Sensitive populations such as infants, young children, and pregnant and nursing women are at an increased risk of absorbing higher doses of Uranium contamination. Infants and small children are also at risk of damage due to exposure and excess absorption of Uranium during critical periods of developmental growth. Consuming drinking water with elevated Uranium levels should be avoided by this sensitive population group for an extended time period, and they should have an alternate source of purified drinking water.
Uranium not only affects sensitive populations; it has far-reaching health effects for those who have long-term exposures. The ingestion of this toxic chemical can cause kidney disease and kidney damage, and the longer the exposure, the greater the risk of more acute illness. The chemical properties of Uranium will usually produce ill health effects much sooner than its radioactive properties (radium, Radon).
Over time, exposure to high levels of radium significantly increases the risk of bone and liver cancer. When exposed to large doses of Uranium, some will be excreted from the body while the rest primarily travels into the bones, liver, kidneys, and other organs. However, even a small portion of Uranium can deposit and accumulate in the bones for several years, which poses a heightened risk of bone cancer, lymphoma, aplastic anemia, and leukemia. The kidneys will absorb some Uranium, and this decreases the kidneys’ ability to filter toxins from the bloodstream. If Uranium contamination is removed, it may reverse some kidney issues.
There are further adverse health conditions linked to contact with or consuming Uranium. Ingesting Uranium may also cause liver disease or damage. When exposed, it absorbs into the bloodstream, which may negatively affect the blood cells, causing anemias. Chronic exposure can increase the risk of cardiovascular disease and high blood pressure.
Recent studies also suggest that radiation exposure may cause negative reproductive issues or reproductive damage in both men and women. Animal studies show that radiation exposure can cause toxicity to the fetus (in mice), decreased fertility, and some developmental variations and behavioral effects. Uranium can pass from a pregnant woman to her fetus and from breast milk to a baby, so if pregnant or breastfeeding, you should test your drinking water if you suspect it may contain Uranium. Suppose the Uranium level in your water is higher than the guideline value. In that case, it is highly recommended to use an alternate source of drinking water or install a water purification system to remove the Uranium.
Do I Have Uranium in My Drinking Water?
Water contaminated with Uranium, Radium, and Gross Alpha Radiation does not produce any changes in smell, color, or taste. The only way to ensure your tap or well water is safe is to acquire a water analysis that includes a Gross Alpha Radiation and Uranium screening test performed in a certified laboratory. If you suspect Uranium in your private well or spring water, it is recommended to test for Uranium and Gross Alpha Radiation at least every five years.
Many municipalities include Uranium in their water sampling, but any amount shown in their samples means it is present in your drinking water. Although we naturally ingest some Uranium, it was never meant to be an added drinking water contaminant. This means the municipal water treatment is not effectively removing Uranium from its municipal drinking water supply.
How To Remove Uranium from Drinking Water
It is reassuring to know that radioactive elements can be removed effectively from drinking water. Each radioactive element will require different treatments depending on the element.
Neither Uranium nor Gross Alpha Radiation can be removed by heating or boiling your drinking water. However, radioactive elements can be removed from your drinking water with specifically designed water treatment systems. It is also recommended to re-test your drinking water after installation of any water treatment system to ensure Uranium and Gross Alpha Radiation levels are below the drinking water standards.
A Reverse Osmosis Water Filtration System provides clean, purified water that is up to 99% free of harmful chemicals, including Uranium. It filters water through a semi-permeable membrane that traps chemicals and contaminants, producing only purified great-tasting water from an exclusive reverse osmosis faucet conveniently installed at your kitchen sink. Reverse Osmosis Systems do not use harsh chemicals and are energy efficient. They can also provide refreshing pure water by connecting to your refrigerator for cold water and ice.
Nanofiltration provides those who receive their drinking water from a lake or well with a way to reduce Uranium in their drinking water. It works much like a reverse osmosis system, using a semi-permeable membrane that filters out unhealthy and toxic contaminants such as Uranium. A Whole Home Nanofiltration System may include the addition of pre and post-treatment filters to provide you with soft, pure water that is up to 95% free of harmful contaminants.
When the Uranium levels in your well water are high, it may be necessary to use a specialized Uranium removal filter to ensure adequate removal of Uranium from your drinking water. The Excalibur Filtermax Uranium Filter is explicitly designed to remove up to 99% of the Uranium in your water. It is an energy-efficient system with a high-flow control valve. Pre-filters are used to remove water hardness, hydrogen sulfide, and iron before the Filtermax Uranium Filter to ensure the most effective contaminant removal.
For more information about Excalibur Reverse Osmosis Systems and Uranium Removal Filters, please contact us.
