What federal standards exist that address radiation in drinking water?
Under the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA), the EPA sets legal limits on the levels of certain radionuclides in drinking water. These limits are applicable to all federal, state and local jurisdictions,...
View ArticleHow does the EPA analyze air filters?
RadNet operators ship air filters from the monitoring location to the EPA’s National Analytical Radiation Environmental Laboratory (NAREL) for analysis. RadNet sample analysis on air filters is conduct
View ArticleWhere can I find results for beta monitoring in air?
The EPA monitors beta particles as part of the RadNet network through routine laboratory air filter analysis.
View ArticleHow does the EPA sample drinking water for radionuclides?
More than 60 drinking water sampling locations reported results in the United States in 2018 as part of the RadNet monitoring network.
View ArticleHow does precipitation affect radiation levels in the environment?
It is very common for natural background radiation levels to change during precipitation events such as rain, sleet or snow.
View ArticleHow does the EPA monitor the air for radiation?
The EPA operates 140 radiation air monitors across the United States as part of its RadNet nationwide monitoring system. RadNet air monitors measure gamma radiation emitted from airborne radioactive...
View ArticleWhat are the parts of particulate matter, and how do they relate?
Primary PM2.5 estimates are speciated into the five PM species in the NEI: elemental (black) carbon (EC), organic carbon (OC), nitrate (NO3), sulfate (SO4), and the remainder of PM25-PRI (PMFINE).
View ArticleWhere can I download hourly emissions data from continuous monitoring?
Hourly emissions data files are available from the Clean Air Markets Division of EPA, collected as part of 40 CFR Part 75. The download location has changed in February, 2023.
View ArticleDoes EPA’s RadNet monitoring network track non-ionizing radiation from power...
The EPA’s RadNet monitoring network is designed to track fluctuations in airborne radioactive particles. RadNet does not track non-ionizing radiation that comes from power lines, transmitters, or cell...
View ArticleWhere can I find older NEI data (prior to 2008)?
The raw data and summaries that are still available (dating back to 1990) can be obtained from the web page https://www.epa.gov/air-emissions-inventories/pollutant-emissions-summary-files-earlier-neis
View ArticleHow do the different parts of particulate matter (PM) fit together?
The various parts of PM in the NEI are related as follows.
View ArticleWhat units does EPA use to report laboratory analysis results (drinking...
EPA reports RadNet laboratory results in conventional units, as shown below with their international equivalents:
View ArticleHow does the EPA sample precipitation for radionuclides?
Samples of precipitation such as rain, snow or sleet are collected at more than 25 stations across the U.S. Samples are collected using specially designed precipitation collection devices which funnel...
View ArticleWhere can I find the analytical results from drinking water samples?
All RadNet drinking water sampling results are available on the RadNet Envirofacts website. For more information, visit RadNet.
View ArticleWhat is RadNet?
The EPA's RadNet system monitors the nation's air, precipitation and drinking water to track radiation in the environment.
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