Does Reverse Osmosis Remove Radiation from Water? Learn Here!
Written by: Gene Fitzgerald // Last Updated: Apr 27, 2023
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Radiation in drinking water might be more common than you think. And having radiation in your water is a serious issue that demands immediate attention.
Reverse osmosis works against a wide range of water contaminants, but does it remove radiation, too?
In this article, we’ll discuss reverse osmosis water purification and radiation removal.
Contents
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Key Takeaways
- Reverse osmosis removes up to 99% of radiation from water.
Does Reverse Osmosis Remove Radiation from Water?
First of all, does reverse osmosis remove radiation from water?
Yes, reverse osmosis removes up to 99% of radiation from water.
By the way, “radiation” in water refers to a group of radioactive contaminants, like uranium and radium.
How Does Reverse Osmosis Clean Radioactive Water?
Reverse osmosis systems purify radioactive water by forcing it through a semipermeable membrane under high pressure. The membrane has extremely small pores that prevent contaminants from passing. In fact, the pores are only large enough to let water molecules diffuse through them. Radioactive particles are held back on the membrane surface.
The purified water is then stored in a tank. The trapped contaminants are flushed through a separate pathway and go down the drain.
This simple process is super effective at cleaning radioactive water and can remove up to 99% of radioactive contaminants like uranium.
Other Ways to Remove Radiation from Water
Reverse osmosis is not the only way to remove radiation from water. You could also try any of the following:
Ion Exchange
Ion exchange is another way to remove radiation from water. It works by passing water through a resin bed saturated with ions (the bed can be positively or negatively charged, depending on the target contaminants). The resin ions are then exchanged with the radioactive ions in the water. The radioactive ions become stuck on the resin bed.
Ion exchange resins for radium use potassium and sodium, meaning positive radium ions are exchanged for positive potassium and sodium ones. Uranium, a negatively charged ion, is exchanged for other negatively charged ions like chloride.
Note: Ion exchange becomes less effective in certain conditions. For instance, if you’re filtering hard water, the hardness ions like calcium and magnesium will compete with radium ions. So instead of exchanging radium ions, the hardness ions are exchanged, which doesn’t help reduce radiation at all.
Carbon Filtration
Carbon filtration also works for removing radioactive particles from water. Activated carbon is highly adsorbent and attracts contaminants, causing them to stick to its surface.
As water flows through the activated carbon filter, it adsorbs and traps the radioactive particles floating in the water. Clean water flows freely through the filter and is collected for use.
Activated carbon is very cheap and easily accessible, so anyone can use it. But remember that your activated carbon filter does not filter water indefinitely — eventually, it will become saturated with contaminants and must be replaced.
Water Distillation
Water distillation is a straightforward way to remove radiation from water. During distillation, the distiller heats water to steam to separate it from impurities. The steam rises from the boiling chamber and into the condensing chamber, where it turns back into (now purified) liquid.
Distillation removes nearly 100% radiation from water.
Although effective, the biggest downside of water distillation is that it takes hours to work.
What Is Radiation and How Does It Get into Water Supplies?
Radiation is energy emitted in the form of waves or particles when an unstable atomic nucleus breaks down. Radioactive materials, called radionuclides, might be man-made or occur freely in nature. Naturally occurring radioactive materials are present in the air, soil, water, and our bodies.
We’re constantly inhaling and ingesting different forms of radiation every day. In small doses, these radiations do not affect us. However, overexposure to radiation is definitely a problem.
A lot of the radioactive contaminants found in our drinking water supplies these days occur naturally. For instance, small amounts of uranium and radium are present in almost all rock and soil and dissolve into our water sources. Radon also occurs naturally in groundwater, and since most of our water is sourced from groundwater, these radionuclides find their way into our home water systems.
Beyond natural sources, radionuclides in our water supplies can come from emissions from nuclear power plants or laboratories. These radiations settle in the soil and water sources, contaminating water bodies.
Health Effects: Why Radioactive Materials in Water Are Problematic
Radiation in your drinking water might be just as dangerous as you expect it to be. But the effects that may arise depend on factors like:
- The type of radiation present
- The amount of radioactive material
- Duration and frequency of exposure
- The age of the person drinking the water
Generally speaking, children and pregnant women are more susceptible to the risks of radioactive materials in water.
The health effects of radiation in water include:
- Cancer: Consuming radioactive materials in water can increase your chances of developing several cancers, including thyroid cancer and leukemia.
- Birth defects: Exposure to radiation during pregnancy increases the risk of the fetus developing a birth defect.
- Radiation sickness: This occurs in cases where there’s acute exposure to high radiation levels. The effects here are more immediate. They include nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea.
A Safe Level?
According to the Minnesota Department of Health, safe drinking water should have
- 15 pCi/L (picocuries of alpha particles per liter of water) or less.
- Combined radium 226/228 of 5 pCi/L
- Uranium of 20 pCi/L or less
Further Reading:
How to Test Your Water for Radioactivity
There are three different ways you could test your water for radioactivity. They include:
- Testing your water with a radiation water kit: You can get this kit from your public health department or a state-certified facility. This test enables you to check for radioactive elements in your water. Simply follow the instructions on the test kit and package your water samples to the facility for testing.
- Hiring a professional: Your best bet here are water filter companies because they usually offer water testing services like this. You can contact your water filtration company or any other reputable brand.
- Check the radiation water levels in your area: Alternatively, you could check the available water quality reports. Water quality reports show you contaminants present in your water and the levels in which they exist. These contaminants also include radiation. You can contact your water provider to get a copy of this report.
If you have any thoughts about the question, can reverse osmosis remove radiation, please don’t hesitate to leave a comment below!
About the Author Gene Fitzgerald
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