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Bad to the Bone:
Analysis of the Federal Maximum Contaminant Levels for Plutonium-239 and
Other Alpha-Emitting Transuranic Radionuclides in Drinking Water

By: Arjun Makhijani, Ph.D.
June 2005

PDF of entire report
[300 KB, 33 pp.]

Press Release

Table of Contents

Acknowledgements

Main findings

Recommendations

I. Introduction

II. National Primary Drinking Water Regulations – Radionuclides
A. Bone dose estimation in ICRP 2
B. Bone dose estimation, present-day dose conversion factors
1. Bone doses according to FGR 11
2. Bone doses according to FGR 13

III. Conclusions

IV. Costs

V. Estimating the impact of residual radioactivity

VI. Other risks and radionuclides

References

References

40 CFR 141
Code of Federal Regulations. Title 40 – Protection of Environment. Chapter I – Environmental Protection Agency. Part 141 – National Primary Drinking Water Regulations. 7-1-04 Edition. Washington, DC: Office of the Federal Register, National Archives and Records Administration; United States Government Printing Office, 2004. On the Web at http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_04/40cfr141_04.html.

40 CFR 190
Code of Federal Regulations. Title 40 – Protection of Environment. Chapter I – Environmental Protection Agency. Part 190 – Environmental Radiation Protection Standards for Nuclear Power Operations. 7-1-04 Edition. Washington, DC: Office of the Federal Register, National Archives and Records Administration; United States Government Printing Office, 2004. On the Web at http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_04/40cfr190_04.html.

40 CFR 191
Code of Federal Regulations. Title 40 – Protection of Environment. Chapter I – Environmental Protection Agency. Part 191 – Environmental Radiation Protection Standards For Management And Disposal Of Spent Nuclear Fuel, High-Level And Transuranic Radioactive Wastes
. 7-1-04 Edition. Washington, DC: Office of the Federal Register, National Archives and Records Administration; United States Government Printing Office, 2004. On the Web at http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_04/40cfr191_04.html.

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Colorado Reg. 31, 2005
Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment. Water Quality Control Commission. The Basic Standards and Methodologies for Surface Water (5 CCR 1002-31). Regulation No 31. Originally adopted in 1979 and last amended on November 8, 2004, with the amendments to be effective March 22, 2005. Link on the Web at http://www.cdphe.state.co.us/op/regs/waterqualityregs.asp. Viewed June 2, 2005.

CDPHE 2002
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Fed. Reg. 1975/08/14
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Fed. Reg. 1975/12/24
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Fed. Reg. 2000
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International Commission on Radiological Protection. The Metabolism of plutonium and related elements. ICRP Publication 48. Annals of the ICRP, 16(2/3). Oxford, UK: Pergamon, 1986.

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International Commission on Radiological Protection. Doses to the embryo and fetus from intakes of radionuclides by the mother. ICRP Publication 88. Annals of the ICRP, 31(1/3) 2001. Corrected version. Oxford, UK: Pergamon, May 2002.

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Arjun Makhijani and Michele Boyd. Nuclear dumps by the riverside: threats to the Savannah River from radioactive contamination at the Savannah River Site (SRS). Takoma Park, MD: Institute for Energy and Environmental Research, March 11, 2004. On the Web at http://www.ieer.org/reports/srs/index.html.

Makhijani and Gopal 2001
Arjun Makhijani and Sriram Gopal. Setting cleanup standards to protect future generations: the scientific basis of the subsistence farmer scenario and its application to the estimation of Radionuclide Soil Action Levels (RSALs) for Rocky Flats. A report prepared for the Rocky Mountain Peace and Justice Center, Boulder, Colorado. Takoma Park, MD: Institute for Energy and Environmental Research, December 2001. On the Web at http://www.ieer.org/reports/rocky/fullrpt.pdf.

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Arjun Makhijani and Brice Smith. Costs and risks of management and disposal of depleted uranium from the National Enrichment Facility proposed to be built in Lea County New Mexico by LES. Takoma Park, MD: Institute for Energy and Environmental Research, November 24, 2004. Version for Public Release Redacted February 1, 2005. On the Web at http://www.ieer.org/reports/du/LESrptfeb05.pdf.

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June 2005