Radium and Thorium X in Some Potable Waters

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Abstract
Water from wells which penetrate into the Galesville sandstone of Cambrian age at a depth of approximately 1500 feet near Chicago, Illinois was found to contain from 3 to 8 [mu][mu]c Ra226 per liter and similar concentrations of Ra224. This is believed to be the highest authenticated concentration of Ra found to date for any drinking water in the United States. The combined population of the communities using these wells is over 100,000. Drinking water from Frankfurt am Main, Germany was found to contain less than 0.3 [mu][mu]c Ra226 per liter as compared to more than 300 [mu][mu]c per liter previously reported. Less than one uuc of total alpha activity per liter was found in water from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, although 143 [mu][mu]c Ra226 per liter had been reported.