The Philadelphia Water Department announced yesterday that it is enhancing its testing procedures and reviewing treatment technology after federal environmental officials found radioactive iodine in the city’s drinking water.The level of Iodine-131 found at the Queen Lane treatment plant is the highest of 23 sites in 13 states where the particles have appeared following the massive radiation leaks from the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant in Japan. Lower levels were found at the city’s two other plants.
But the Iodine-131 in Philadelphia may have no connection to Japan, officials say.
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Perhaps more disturbing: Nobody knows exactly how the Iodine-131 – which can cause thyroid cancer if consumed in large quantities or over a prolonged period of time – is getting into Philly’s drinking water.
“At this point, that is not really known,” said EPA spokesman David Sternberg. “We’re investigating.”
Kathryn Higley, a health physicist at Oregon State University, said the most likely source is a facility that treats cancer patients with Iodine-131, which can enter the water supply when patients go to the bathroom. Philadelphia Daily News link
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