This is part of our ongoing collection of radiation safety limits and standards around the world.
US EPA drinking water limits by nuclide
US EPA Limits of Radioactive Isotopes:
US EPA has established a maximum contaminant level of 4 millirems per year for beta particle and photon radioactivity from man-made radionuclides in drinking water.
Iodine-131 = 3piC/L (0.11 Bq/L)
Cesium-137 = 200 picocuries per liter (7.41 Bq/L)
Stronium-90 = 8 picocuries per liter. (0.30 Bq/L)
Technetium-99 = 900 picocuries per liter (33.3 Bq/L)
Tritium = 20,000 picocuries per liter (741 Bq/L)
Uranium-238 = 30 µg/L (micrograms/liter)
Iodine-129 = 3 picocuries per liter (0.11 Bq/L)
Milk = 170 Bq/kg (of iodine-131)
FDA has set a Derived Intervention Level (DIL) for Iodine-131 of 170 Bq/kg in foods prepared for consumption.
*All except Iodine-131 found here: http://www.ecy.wa.gov/programs/nwp/gwcontaminants.htm
Iodine-131 and milk/food max statistic found here:
http://www.mass.gov/Eeohhs2/docs/dph/environmental/radiationcontrol/rad_rainwater_i131_fed_faq.pdf
US FDA Levels Of Concern For Radioactive Contamination In Food
Includes detailed information and charts.
https://www.fda.gov/food/chemical-contaminants-food/supporting-document-guidance-levels-radionuclides-domestic-and-imported-foods
Derived intervention levels by FDA
| Radionuclide Group | DIL (Bq/kg) |
|---|---|
| Strontium-90 | 160 |
| Iodine-131 | 170 |
| Cesium-134 + Cesium-137 | 1200 |
| Plutonium-238 + Plutonium-239 + Americium-241 | 2 |
| Ruthenium-103 + Ruthenium-106(c) | (C3 / 6800) + (C6 / 450) <> |
Canada Radioactive Isotopes, Maximum Limits (MAC):
Iodine-131 = 6 Bq/L
Cesium-137 = 10 Bq/L
Strontium-90 = 5 Bq/L
Tritium = 7000 Bq/L
uranium1 = 0.02 mg/L
Radium-226 = 0.5 Bq/L
**This list is fairly old and may be changed
Emergency Food Standards Japan & US FDA*
* Japan changed all food intervention level contamination standards to 100 bq/kg. This is still in force as of 2021.
Iodine-131
Water and Milk = 300 Bq/kg
Vegetables = 2000 Bq/kg (veggies except for tubers and root veggies)
Cesium-137
Water and Milk = 200 Bq/kg
Vegetables, Grain, Meat, Eggs, Fish = 500 Bq/kg
Uranium
Infant foods = 20 Bq/kg
Water and Milk = 20 Bq/kg
Vegetables, Grain, Meat, Eggs, Fish = 100 Bq/kg
Plutonium and elements (Total radioactive concentration of 238Pu,239Pu, 240PU, 241Am,242Cm, 243Cm, 244Cm)
Infant food = 1 Bq/kg
Water and Milk = 1 Bq/kg
Vegetables, Grain, Meat, Eggs, Fish = 10Bq/kg
Derived Intervention Levels for consumption or export
Iodine-131 = 170 Bq/kg
Cesium-137 = 1200 Bq/kg (also Cesium-134)
Plutonium = 2 Bq/kg (includes Plutonium-238 + Plutonium-239 + Americium-241)
Stronium-90 = 160 Bq/kg
Ruthenium-103 &106 = (C3 / 6800) + (C6 / 450) < 1
EU standards for Cesium
Cesium-137 & 134
Milk = 370 Bq/kg
Infant food = 370 Bq/kg
Other food products = 600 Bq/kg
source: http://ec.europa.eu/energy/nuclear/radioprotection/doc/legislation/90737_en.pdf
***These were Japan’s levels listed before the accident****
Japan current threshold amounts:
I-131 = 300 Bq/kg
Cs-134/137 = 200 Bq/kg
NOTE: 1 Becquerel = 27 picoCuries
Post-accident the maximum allowed radioactive contamination for cesium 137 and 134 combined is 100 bq/kg in Japan.
