Agenda - 05-01-2001-10a - Laserfiche WebLink

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1 been established by the EPA. The incidence of lead is usually tied to corrosion of solder joints in metal household pipes and alloys in pumps and faucets. Elevated lead exposure is known to cause delayed physical and mental development in babies and young children and also has been linked to kidney disease. F. Organic Compounds The ground water samples collected in the County were also examined for certain organic compounds that may indicate the presence of herbicides or petroleum products. Specifically, the water testing checked for atrazine-type compounds and total petroleum-hydrocarbon compounds, including BTEX ( a common measurement of benzine, toluene, ethylene and xylene). Atrazine is a frequently used herbicide. None of the compounds were detected in the samples, and this result in the geographically and statistically sampled wells may indicate that contamination by organic compounds is not a widespread problem in the County. Further work would be needed to more comprehensively determine this, however. G. Radon Water-borne radon is anaturally-occurring substance from the decay of uranium bearing rocks. It is the dissolved state of radon (or radium-222) that poses potential health risks. As ground water is exposed to air through showers and running faucets, radon present in the water may diffuse into the air. Thus, there are two potential means of exposure to radon -ingestion and inhaling. Because radon exposure can occur in two ways, EPA has had difficulty addressing regulations, eventually deciding on a "multi-media" approach. If no State or EPA- approved mitigation program exists, the MCL for radon is 300 picoCuries per liter (pCi/L). If there is an approved mitigation program, then 4000 pCi/L is proposed. Results from the wells sampled in this study used these standards for comparison. The results of this sampling are the most significant of all the water quality findings, as some limited incidence of high radon readings were found in the County. These high readings are not completely unexpected. In 1998, findings of high radon levels in nearby Guilford County (in similar geologic formations) led to some expectation by the Committee that higher than average radon findings would also be observed in Orange. The range of radon activity in Orange was quite dramatic, from a low of 38 pCi/L (picocuries per liter) to 4462 pCi/L (please see Map 2) .The median finding of all samples was 405 pCi/L, above the 300 pCi/L standard suggested by EPA. Generally, the radon activity was highest in felsic (silica and feldspar) rocks and lowest in mafic rocks (iron and manganese base).