A new report by the Environmental Working Group maintains drinking water for more than 170 million Americans contains radioactive elements that might increase the risk of cancer.
The group carried out an analysis of 2010 to 2015 test results from public water systems across the country and found an estimated 1.6 million Oklahomans fall under the category with radioactive-contaminated water.
Nearly 639 utilities in the state were identified as having such water, resulting in contamination affecting 1,674,1099 Oklahomans.
Texas was ranked much higher with 3,513 utilities supplying the contaminated water to more than 22 million people. Colorado has 540 utilities supplying such water to 4.6 million.
The number in New Mexico totaled 1.8 million people with 486 utilities.
The list in Kansas included 520 utilities affecting 1,675,705 people, just slightly more than the number in Oklahoma.
Arkansas had 385 utilities with radioactive-contaminated water being supplied to 1.2 million.
In announcing its findings, the EWG was critical of President Trump’s nominee to be the White House environment czar, saying Kathleen Hartnett White has rejected the need for water systems to comply even with outdated and inadequate water standards.
The EWG’s Tap Water Database included six radioactive contaminants. Radium, radon and uranium were among them. The most widespread are two isotopes of radium known as radium-226 and radium-228 which contaminate water in every state.
