[Greenbuilding] Comment Re: “All About Radon” (POSTED ON OCT 11 2013 BY MARTIN HOLLADAY, GBA ADVISOR)

[Carmine Vasile]

To all Green Builders: “All About Radon” by MARTIN HOLLADAY, GBA ADVISOR) @ @ http://www.greenbuildingadvisor.com/blogs/dept/musings/all-about-radon?utm_source=email&utm_medium=eletter&utm_content=gba_eletter&utm_campaign=green-building-advisor-eletter raises many issues about radon; the leading cause of lung cancer in those that never smoked. Below is my comment, posted today. Yours truly, Dr. Carmine F. VasileCOMMENT Although
the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) advises homeowners to test air
in their homes for the presence of radon, few know Congress excluded radon
& one of its parents (Uranium) from radionuclide regulations for public
water suppliers since 1976. If the EPA classifies a system as a non-transient
non-community water system (NTNC) – even if it contaminated by on-site dumps
like the Plum Island Animal Disease Laboratory on Plum Island, NY, they are not
required to perform radiological sampling. Private well owners are required to
perform their own tests. Plum Island used to be connected to Long Island, which
has many public wells with over 300 picocuries per liter (pCi/L) of water.
Although a Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL) of 300 pCi/L was proposed over a
decade ago, Congress continued to exclude radon in its 2000 Amendment of the
Safe Drinking Water Act; when it t began limiting total Uranium to 30
micrograms per liter of tap water. Since then indoor air pollution climbed as
homeowners continued to plug air leaks to save energy. [1] Although the U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) advises homeowners to test air in their
homes for the presence of radon, few know Congress excluded radon & one of its
parents (Uranium) from radionuclide regulations for public water suppliers
since 1976. If the EPA classifies a system as a non-transient non-community
water system (NTNC) – even if it contaminated by on-site dumps like the Plum
Island Animal Disease Laboratory on Plum Island, NY, they are not required to
perform radiological sampling. Private well owners are required to perform
their own tests. Plum Island used to be connected to Long Island, which has
many public wells with over 300 picocuries per liter (pCi/L) of water. Although
a Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL) of 300 pCi/L was proposed over a decade ago,
Congress continued to exclude radon in its 2000 Amendment of the Safe Drinking
Water Act; when it t began limiting total Uranium to 30 micrograms per liter of
tap water. Since then indoor air pollution climbed as homeowners continued to
plug air leaks to save energy. [1] 

     If
radioactive water is a source of radon gas, vents in the incoming water line
should be installed -- as I did when I installed the first GFX wastewater heat
recovery system in April of 1980.   

__________________

[1]
RADIONUCLIDE MCLs: On July 9, 1976, EPA promulgated 40 CFR Part 141
Drinking Water Regulations:Radionuclides (1976 MCL rule). This 1976 MCL rule
included the following MCLs: 5 pCi/L for radium-226 and radium-228 combined; 15
pCi/L for gross alpha particle activity (including radium 226, but excluding
uranium and radon); and a concentration that produces a dose equivalent of 4
mrem/yr or less to the total body or any internal organ for the sum of the
doses from man-made beta particles and photon emitters. A list of radionuclides
that are addressed by the gross alpha MCL are provided in Attachment A to
today’s memorandum. Also, provided in Attachment B to today’s memorandum is a
list of radionuclide concentrations calculated using the 4 mrem/yr beta
particles and photon emitters MCL standard. On December 7, 2000, EPA amended 40
CFR Part 141 (65 FR 76708, December 7, 2000) National Primary Drinking Water
Regulations; Radionuclides (2000 MCL rule). This 2000 MCL rule established
requirements for uranium, and retained the existing requirements for combined
radium-226 and radium-228, gross alpha particle radioactivity, and beta
particle and photon radioactivity. The 2000 MCL rule did include MCLGs of zero
for the last four contaminants (see 40 CFR § 141.55).  [From EPA Directive no. 9283.1-14]
  		 	   		  
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