Supporting information on radionuclides

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Guidelines for drinking-water quality: Fourth edition incorporating the first and second addenda [Internet]. Geneva: World Health Organization; 2022.

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Guidelines for drinking-water quality: Fourth edition incorporating the first and second addenda [Internet].

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ANNEX 6Supporting information on radionuclides

A6.1. Guidance levels for radionuclides in drinking-water

Table A6.1Guidance levels for radionuclides in drinking-water

Radionuclide	Guidance level (Bq/l)^a	Radionuclide	Guidance level (Bq/l)^a	Radionuclide	Guidance level (Bq/l)^a	Radionuclide	Guidance level (Bq/l)^a
³H	10 000	⁷¹Ge	10 000	¹⁰⁵Rh	1 000	¹²⁹Cs	1 000
⁷Be	10 000	⁷³As	1 000	¹⁰³Pd	1 000	¹³¹Cs	1 000
¹⁴C	100	⁷⁴As	100	¹⁰⁵Ag	100	¹³²Cs	100
²²Na	100	⁷⁶As	100	^110mAg	100	¹³⁴Cs	10
³²P	100	⁷⁷As	1 000	¹¹¹Ag	100	¹³⁵Cs	100
³³P	1 000	⁷⁵Se	100	¹⁰⁹Cd	100	¹³⁶Cs	100
³⁵S	100	⁸²Br	100	¹¹⁵Cd	100	¹³⁷Cs	10
³⁶Cl	100	⁸⁶Rb	100	^115mCd	100	¹³¹Ba	1 000
⁴⁵Ca	100	⁸⁵Sr	100	¹¹¹In	1 000	¹⁴⁰Ba	100
⁴⁷Ca	100	⁸⁹Sr	100	^114mIn	100	¹⁴⁰La	100
⁴⁶Sc	100	⁹⁰Sr	10	¹¹³Sn	100	¹³⁹Ce	1 000
⁴⁷Sc	100	⁹⁰Y	100	¹²⁵Sn	100	¹⁴¹Ce	100
⁴⁸Sc	100	⁹¹Y	100	¹²²Sb	100	¹⁴³Ce	100
⁴⁸V	100	⁹³Zr	100	¹²⁴Sb	100	¹⁴⁴Ce	10
⁵¹Cr	10 000	⁹⁵Zr	100	¹²⁵Sb	100	¹⁴³Pr	100
⁵²Mn	100	^93mNb	1 000	^123mTe	100	¹⁴⁷Nd	100
⁵³Mn	10 000	⁹⁴Nb	100	¹²⁷Te	1 000	¹⁴⁷Pm	1 000
⁵⁴Mn	100	⁹⁵Nb	100	^127mTe	100	¹⁴⁹Pm	100
⁵⁵Fe	1 000	⁹³Mo	100	¹²⁹Te	1 000	¹⁵¹Sm	1 000
⁵⁹Fe	100	⁹⁹Mo	100	^129mTe	100	¹⁵³Sm	100
⁵⁶Co	100	⁹⁶Tc	100	¹³¹Te	1 000	¹⁵²Eu	100
⁵⁷Co	1 000	⁹⁷Tc	1 000	^131mTe	100	¹⁵⁴Eu	100
⁵⁸Co	100	^97mTc	100	¹³²Te	100	¹⁵⁵Eu	1 000
⁶⁰Co	100	⁹⁹Tc	100	¹²⁵I	10	¹⁵³Gd	1 000
⁵⁹Ni	1 000	⁹⁷Ru	1 000	¹²⁶I	10	¹⁶⁰Tb	100
⁶³Ni	1 000	¹⁰³Ru	100	¹²⁹I	1	¹⁶⁹Er	1 000
⁶⁵Zn	100	¹⁰⁶Ru	10	¹³¹I	10	¹⁷¹Tm	1 000
¹⁷⁵Yb	1 000	²¹⁰Pb^b	0.1	²³¹U	1 000	²⁴³Am	1
¹⁸²Ta	100	²⁰⁶Bi	100	²³²U	1	²⁴²Cm	10
¹⁸¹W	1 000	²⁰⁷Bi	100	²³³U	1	²⁴³Cm	1
¹⁸⁵W	1 000	²¹⁰Bi^b	100	²³⁴U^b	1	²⁴⁴Cm	1
¹⁸⁶Re	100	²¹⁰Po^b	0.1	²³⁵U^b	1	²⁴⁵Cm	1
¹⁸⁵Os	100	²²³Ra^b	1	²³⁶U^b	1	²⁴⁶Cm	1
¹⁹¹Os	100	²²⁴Ra^b	1	²³⁷U	100	²⁴⁷Cm	1
¹⁹³Os	100	²²⁵Ra	1	²³⁸U^b^,^c	10	²⁴⁸Cm	0.1
¹⁹⁰Ir	100	²²⁶Ra^b	1	²³⁷Np	1	²⁴⁹Bk	100
¹⁹²Ir	100	²²⁸Ra^b	0.1	²³⁹Np	100	²⁴⁶Cf	100
¹⁹¹Pt	1 000	²²⁷Th^b	10	²³⁶Pu	1	²⁴⁸Cf	10
^193mPt	1 000	²²⁸Th^b	1	²³⁷Pu	1 000	²⁴⁹Cf	1
¹⁹⁸Au	100	²²⁹Th	0.1	²³⁸Pu	1	²⁵⁰Cf	1
¹⁹⁹Au	1 000	²³⁰Th^b	1	²³⁹Pu	1	²⁵¹Cf	1
¹⁹⁷Hg	1 000	²³¹Th^b	1 000	²⁴⁰Pu	1	²⁵²Cf	1
²⁰³Hg	100	²³²Th^b	1	²⁴¹Pu	10	²⁵³Cf	100
²⁰⁰Tl	1 000	²³⁴Th^b	100	²⁴²Pu	1	²⁵⁴Cf	1
²⁰¹Tl	1 000	²³⁰Pa	100	²⁴⁴Pu	1	²⁵³Es	10
²⁰²Tl	1 000	²³¹Pa^b	0.1	²⁴¹Am	1	²⁵⁴Es	10
²⁰⁴Tl	100	²³³Pa	100	²⁴²Am	1 000	^254mEs	100
²⁰³Pb	1 000	²³⁰U	1	^242mAm	1

a: Guidance levels were rounded to the nearest order of magnitude by averaging the log scale values (to 10ⁿ if the calculated value was below 3 × 10ⁿ and to 10ⁿ⁺¹ if the value was 3 × 10ⁿ or above). For example, if the calculated value was 2 Bq/L (i.e. 2 × 10⁰), the guidance level was rounded to 10⁰ (i.e. = 1) whereas, if the calculated value was 3 Bq /L (i.e. 3 × 10⁰ or above), the guidance level was rounded to 10¹ (i.e. = 10).
b: Natural radionuclides.
c: The provisional guideline value for uranium in drinking-water is 30 µg/l based on its chemical toxicity for the kidney (see section 8.5).

A6.2. References for further information about radionuclides

ICRP (1989) Individual monitoring for intakes of radionuclides by workers. ICRP Publication 54. Annals of the ICRP, 19(1–3).
ICRP (2006) Human alimentary tract model for radiological protection. ICRP Publication 100. Annals of the ICRP, 36(2). [PubMed: 17188183]
ICRP (2008) Nuclear decay data for dosimetric calculations. ICRP Publication 107. Annals of the ICRP, Volume 38(3). [PubMed: 19285593]

A6.3. References for further information about analytical methods and treatment technologies for radionuclides

Annanmäki M, ed. (2000) Treatment techniques for removing natural radionuclides from drinking water. Final report of the TENAWA Project. Helsinki, Radiation and Nuclear Safety Authority (STUK-A169).
APHA, AWWA, WEF (2005) Standard methods for the examination of water and wastewater, 21st ed. Washington, DC, American Public Health Association, American Water Works Association and Water Environment Federation, pp. 7–15.
ASTM (1998) ASTM annual book of standards. Vol. 11.02. Philadelphia, PA, American Society for Testing and Materials.
Bring R, Miller AG (1992) Direct detection of trace levels of uranium by laser induced kinetic phosphor¬imetry. Analytical Chemistry, 64:1413–1418.
Chiu NW, Dean JR (1986) Radioanalytical methods manual. Ottawa, Ontario, Canadian Government Publishing Centre, Canadian Centre for Mineral and Energy Technology, National Uranium Tailings Program (CANMET Report 78-22).
Crawford-Brown DJ (1989) The biokinetics and dosimetry of radon-222 in the human body following ingestion of groundwater. Environmental Geochemistry and Health, 11:10–17. [PubMed: 24202200]
Department of National Health and Welfare (1977) Chemical procedures for the determination of ⁸⁹Sr, ⁹⁰Sr, and ¹³⁷Cs in surface waters, fresh-water algae and fresh-water fish. Ottawa, Ontario, Department of National Health and Welfare (Report 77-EHD-14).
Health Canada (2000) Environmental radioactivity in Canada 1989–1996. Available from Environmental Radiation Hazards Division, Radiation Protection Bureau, Health Canada, Ottawa, Ontario [see also earlier editions of Environmental radioactivity in Canada].
Health Canada (2004) Point-of-use and point-of-entry treatment technologies for the removal of lead-210 and uranium from drinking water. Richmond Hill, Ontario, Senes Consultants Ltd.
Igarashi Y, Kawamura H, Shiraishi K (1989) Determination of thorium and uranium in biological samples by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry using internal standardization. Journal of Analytical Atomic Spectrometry, 4:571–576.
ISO (2003) Standard ISO 5667 3: Water quality—Sampling—Part 3: Guidance on the preservation and handling of water samples. Geneva, International Organization for Standardization.
ISO (2006) Standard ISO 5667 1: Water quality—Sampling—Part 1: Guidance on the design of sampling programmes and sampling techniques. Geneva, International Organization for Standardization.
ISO (2006) Standard ISO 5667-5: Water quality—Sampling—Part 5: Guidance on sampling of drinking water from treatment works and piped distribution systems. Geneva, International Organization for Standardization.
ISO (2007) Standard ISO 9696: Water quality—Measurement of gross alpha activity in non-saline water—Thick source method. Geneva, International Organization for Standardization.
ISO (2007) Standard ISO 10703: Water quality—Determination of the activity concentration of radionuclides—Method by high resolution gamma-ray spectrometry. Geneva, International Organization for Standardization.
ISO (2008) Standard ISO 9697: Water quality—Measurement of gross beta activity in non-saline water—Thick source method. Geneva, International Organization for Standardization.
ISO (2009) Standard ISO 5667-11: Water quality—Sampling—Part 11: Guidance on sampling of groundwaters. Geneva, International Organization for Standardization.
ISO (2009) Standard ISO 10704: Water quality—Measurement of gross alpha and gross beta activity in non-saline water—Thin source deposit method. Geneva, International Organization for Standardization.
ISO (2010) ISO 969: Water quality—Determination of tritium activity concentration—Liquid scintillation counting method. Geneva, International Organization for Standardization.
ISO (2010) Standard ISO 11704: Water quality—Measurement of gross alpha and beta activity concentration in non-saline water—Liquid scintillation counting method. Geneva, International Organization for Standardization.
ISO (in preparation) Standard ISO 13160: Water quality—Measurement of strontium 90 and strontium 89. Geneva, International Organization for Standardization.
ISO (in preparation) Standard ISO 13161: Water quality—Measurement of polonium 210 activity concentration in water by alpha spectrometry. Geneva, International Organization for Standardization.
ISO (in preparation) Standard ISO 13162: Water quality—Determination of carbon 14 activity—Liquid scintillation counting method. Geneva, International Organization for Standardization.
ISO (in preparation) Standard ISO 13163-1: Water quality—Measurement of lead 210 activity concentration—Part 1: Liquid scintillation counting method. Geneva, International Organization for Standardization.
ISO (in preparation) Standard ISO 13164-1: Water quality—Measurement of the activity concentration of radon-222 and its short-lived decay products—Part 1: Radon origins and measurement methods. Geneva, International Organization for Standardization.
ISO (in preparation) Standard ISO 13164-2: Water quality—Measurement of the activity concentration of radon-222 and its short-lived decay products—Part 2: Direct measurement by gamma spectrometry. Geneva, International Organization for Standardization.
ISO (in preparation) Standard ISO 13164-3: Water quality—Measurement of the activity concentration of radon-222 and its short-lived decay products—Part 3: Indirect measurement with degassing. Geneva, International Organization for Standardization.
ISO (in preparation) Standard ISO 13165-1: Water quality—Measurement of radium 226 activity concentration—Part 1: Liquid scintillation counting method. Geneva, International Organization for Standardization.
Lariviere D et al. (2009) Rapid and automated analytical technologies for radiological nuclear emergency preparedness. In: Koskinen AN, ed. Nuclear chemistry: New research. Nova Science Publishers, Inc., pp. 99–154.
NSF International (2005) Contaminant guide. Ann Arbor, MI, NSF International (http://www.nsf.org/consumer/drinking_water/dw_contaminant_guide.asp?program=WaterTre).
NSF International (2005) Contaminant testing protocols. Ann Arbor, MI, NSF International (http://www.nsf.org/consumer/drinking_water/dw_contaminant_protocols.asp).
Prichard HM, Gesell TF (1977) Rapid measurements of ²²²Rn concentrations in water with a commercial liquid scintillations counter. Health Physics, 33:577–581. [PubMed: 604301]
Prichard HM, Venso EA, Dodson CL (1991) Liquid scintillation analysis of ²²²Rn in water by alpha/beta discrimination. Radioactivity and Radiochemistry, 3:28–26.
USEPA (1980) Prescribed procedures for measurement of radioactivity in drinking water. Washington, DC, United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA 600/4-80-032).
USEPA (1987) Two test procedures for radon in drinking water. Appendix D. Analytical test procedure. Washington, DC, United States Environmental Protection Agency, p. 22 (EPA/600/2-87/082).
USEPA (1999) National primary drinking water regulations; radon-222. Washington, DC, United States Environmental Protection Agency. Federal Register, 64(211).
USEPA (2000) National primary drinking water regulations; radionuclides; final rule. Washington, DC, United States Environmental Protection Agency (40 Code of Federal Regulations Parts 9, 141 and 142).
USEPA (2000) Radionuclides notice of data availability technical support document. Prepared by Office of Groundwater and Drinking Water, United States Environmental Protection Agency, in collaboration with Office of Indoor Air and Radiation, USEPA, and United States Geological Survey.
USEPA (2008) Approved methods for radionuclides. Washington, DC, United States Environmental Protection Agency (http://www.epa.gov/ogwdw/methods/pdfs/methods/methods_radionuclides.pdf).
Vitz E (1991) Toward a standard method for determining waterborne radon. Health Physics, 60:817–829. [PubMed: 2032836]
Volchok HL, de Planque G, eds (1983) EML procedures manual, 26th ed. New York, NY, United States Department of Energy, Environmental Measurements Laboratory (HASL-300).
WHO (2002) Establishing a dialogue on risks from electromagnetic fields. Geneva, World Health Organization.
WHO (2009) WHO handbook on indoor radon: A public health perspective. Geneva, World Health Organization. [PubMed: 23762967]

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Guidelines for drinking-water quality: Fourth edition incorporating the first and second addenda [Internet]. Geneva: World Health Organization; 2022. ANNEX 6, Supporting information on radionuclides.
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