Atascosa Tap Water Quality Report

What is Radium, combined (-226 & -228)?

Radium is a naturally occurring radioactive metal that is part of the uranium decay series. It is found in trace amounts in soil, rock, and water. Radium is known for its radioactive properties and can emit alpha, beta, and gamma radiation. It is a heavy metal and can be harmful to human health when ingested or inhaled.

Health Effects

Exposure to radium can lead to serious health issues, including an increased risk of cancer, particularly bone cancer. It can also cause damage to the bone marrow and other organs. Long-term exposure may result in anemia, immune system suppression, and other health complications.

Affected Organs

Common Sources

Certified Filter Standards

What is Uranium?

Uranium is a weakly radioactive heavy metal found naturally in bedrock and used in nuclear weapons, some ceramics, electron microscopy stains, photography toners, and certain fertilizers. Uranium is weakly radioactive because all of its isotopes (Uranium-234, Uranium-235, and Uranium-238) are unstable. Ninety-nine percent of naturally existing uranium is in the isotope form uranium-238. The EPA has established a maximum contaminant level for uranium in drinking water in response to human and animal studies indicating kidney toxicity and and increased risk of cancer.

Health Effects

Health protective benchmarks for uranium are based on adverse kidney system effects observed in both humans and animals and an increased risk of cancer. Animal studies have also shown female reproductive system and developmental toxicity, as well as genotoxicity, related to uranium exposure.

Affected Organs

Common Sources

Certified Filter Standards

What is Gross Alpha (Excl. Radon and Uranium)?

Gross alpha activity is a measure of the total alpha particle activity in a water sample, excluding radon and uranium. It is used to assess the presence of radioactive contaminants in drinking water.

Health Effects

Exposure to high levels of alpha radiation can lead to an increased risk of cancer, particularly in the bones and other tissues where alpha particles can deposit energy.

Affected Organs

Common Sources

Certified Filter Standards

What is Gross Alpha Activity?

Gross alpha activity measures the total amount of radioactivity in a water sample emitted by decaying alpha-emitting elements, notably radioactive isotopes of uranium, radium, and radon. Alpha emitters are used to treat cancer, as an eliminator of static in paper mills and in other products like smoke detectors. Radioactive atoms release high energy alpha particles that pull electrons off of the atoms in cells. This process is called ionizing radiation, and may lead to harmful changes in cells and tissues. The toxicity of an alpha emitter depends on the amount of energy it releases and how organ systems respond to that energy. Exposure to elevated gross alpha activity is associated with increased cancer risk and genotoxicity, but toxicity to individual systems is dependent on the type of alpha emitter present.

Health Effects

Drinking water standards for gross alpha activity have been developed based on increased cancer risk associated with alpha radioactivity. Alpha radiation has been shown to produce DNA changes (genotoxicity) in laboratory studies.

Affected Organs

Common Sources

Certified Filter Standards

What is Dibromochloromethane?

Member of trihalomethanes (THMs) that form in water treated with chlorine

Health Effects

Health protective benchmarks for DBCM have been developed based on liver toxicity and carcinogenicity observed in animal studies. EPA has classified DBCM as a possible human carcinogen based on animal evidence, while IARC (International Agency for Research on Cancer) says it is unclassifiable as a human carcinogen. Kidney toxicity has also been associated with DBCM based on evidence from animal studies. DBCM has been shown to produce DNA changes (genotoxicity) in laboratory studies.

Affected Organs

Common Sources

Certified Filter Standards

What is Total THMs?

Group of contaminants that form in drinking water systems when a disinfectant, typically chlorine, reacts with organic matter

Health Effects

Drinking water standards for total THMs are based on evidence of carcinogenicity in human and animal studies, as well as liver and kidney toxicity observed in animal studies. Individual THMs have been further associated with developmental, immune, spleen, and genotoxicity.

Affected Organs

Common Sources

Certified Filter Standards