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USGS Confirms the Presence of Potentially Harmful Levels of Radon in New England Groundwater

Mon, 9 Jul 2012 10:07:32 EST

EMSL Analytical offers radon test kits and analysis to protect people from this second leading cause of lung cancer.
 
Cinnaminson, NJ, July 5th, 2012
 
Last month, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) announced that a new study has identified potentially harmful levels of naturally occurring arsenic, uranium, radium, radon and manganese in some bedrock groundwater that supplies drinking water wells in New England.
 
According to the USGS news release on the study, 'The results highlight the importance of private well owners testing and potentially treating their water.  While public water supplies are treated to ensure that water reaching the tap of households meets federal requirements, there are no such requirements for private supplies, which serve more than 2.3 million people in the region.'
 
Radiological testing also found some areas of concern for people with private water suppliers. The research discovered that radon exceeded the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) proposed standards in 33% of wells. Uranium, which is easily measurable, was found to be a significant predictor of the presence of other forms of radioactivity (radon, radium, gross alpha radioactivity) that are a cause of concern for human health.
 
'Radon is a radioactive gas that is known to cause cancer,' reported Joe Frasca, Senior Vice President, Marketing at EMSL Analytical, a radiological testing laboratory. 'The Surgeon General has warned that radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer in the United States today.  It is believed to claim the lives of about 20,000 Americans each year.  Radon comes from the natural breakdown of uranium in soil, rock and water.  The gas can move up through the ground and into buildings through cracks, sumps and other holes in a building's foundation or slab.  It can also enter buildings through water sources.  EMSL offers test kits and analysis to determine the radon levels found in people's homes, schools and places of business.  Radiological testing of food, soil and water are also available from EMSL.'
 
EMSL Analytical has a dedicated website that provides radon information at www.RadonTestingLab.com and has also sponsored a public outreach video about radon that can be viewed at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6yOMtXafNwM
 
To learn more about testing for radon, please visit www.EMSL.com, call (800)220-3675 or email info@EMSL.com .
 
About EMSL Analytical, Inc.
EMSL Analytical is a nationally recognized and locally focused provider of environmental and materials testing services and products to professionals and the general public.  The company has an extensive list of accreditations from leading organizations as well as state and federal regulating bodies.