Rad Journal - radioactivity found in south carolina residents

Radioactivity Found in South Carolina Residents

By: Steve Waldrop

July 12, 2001

Uranium found present in people who drink well water

State officials have reported that nearly 100 residents in the Simpsonville-Fountain Inn area are shown to have elevated levels of uranium in their bodies as a result of uranium contamination in their wells. There is an "alarming" level of radioactivity in their bodies according to both state and federal test results.

The findings were released by state Department of Health and Environmental Control and federal Environmental Protection Agency officials after analyzing the tests.

Dr. Robert F. Marino, DHEC's director of the health hazard evaluation division issued a news release that said in part, "We will be working with the local medical community to make sure that physicians are informed about the health effects of uranium so they can address the health concerns of their patients."

Uranium is a radioactive heavy metal that is formed from radium and can occur naturally. Health issues such as kidney problems and cancer can be caused by extended exposure. Contact with radium can also result in anemia, cataracts and fractured teeth, according to the Agency for Toxic Substance and Disease Registry.

DHEC just recently sent the urine test results to the 105 people that were tested. The names of those affected or the number of households involved were not revealed. Two public meeting will be held in the Simpsonville-Fountain Inn area July 24 by DHEC to provide the latest information about uranium in the area's ground water.

The amounts of uranium found in the water of 11 area wells that were tested,are safely within what is considered safe for drinking water, according to DHEC.

"There's not necessarily a problem there because what you're looking at are levels of uranium in the drinking water," said Thom Berry, state Department of health and Environmental Control Spokesman. He continued by saying, "What we were looking for, and what ATSDR (federal Agency for Toxic Substance and Disease Registry) is looking for in the urinalysis was whether there was uranium present in the urine of individuals."

Geologists from the University of South Carolina suggests that the problem might reach out beyond the Simpsonville-Fountain Inn area. Already 30 wells have been identified with high levels of uranium.

U.S. Rep. Jim DeMint expressed concerns about the findings by issuing the following statement. "I'm not just interested in some long-term study to explain how this happens. I want to make sure these individuals get immediate medical care to assess these risks. I also want to see if there's anything we can do to help make the water safer." He also plans to ask for state and federal aide for the residents.

$250,000 has been granted to the residents of the Simpsonville area with wells than contain high levels of uranium. State Officials have issued this money in order to extend water lines.