Is strontium harmful in drinking water?

Is strontium harmful in drinking water?

A person drinking water at or below the guidance value would be at little or no risk for harmful health effects. Strontium is very similar to calcium and can replace calcium in the bone. This disrupts the normal bone structure, leading to skeletal problems and defects.

What causes high strontium levels?

HIGHLIGHTS: Exposure to stable or radioactive strontium occurs from ingesting contaminated food or drinking water or breathing contaminated air. In children, high levels of stable strontium can impair bone growth.

How do you remove strontium from drinking water?

There are no treatment systems currently certified to remove strontium from drinking water. However, because strontium is similar to calcium, cation exchange water softeners that treat hard water have been found to significantly reduce strontium levels.

What is strontium in water?

Strontium is water insoluble, but it does react with water. Strontium compounds can be water soluble. Examples include strontium carbonate with a water solubility of 10 mg/L, and strontium chromate with a water solubility of 9 mg/L.

Is strontium toxic to humans?

There are no harmful effects of stable strontium in humans at the levels typically found in the environment. The only chemical form of stable strontium that is very harmful by inhalation is strontium chromate, but this is because of toxic chromium and not strontium itself.

What does strontium do to the human body?

Strontium is similar to calcium. It seems to play a role in how your body makes new bone while it slows the breakdown of old bone. That means it may affect how strong your bones are. Some research says that women with osteoporosis may not absorb strontium as they should.

Where does strontium come from in water?

In water, most forms of stable and radioactive strontium are dissolved. Stable strontium that is dissolved in water comes from strontium in rocks and soil that water runs over and through. Only a very small part of the strontium found in water is from the settling of strontium dust out of the air.

What happens if you have too much strontium?

Strontium ranelate might cause side effects such as stomach pain, diarrhea, and headache in some people. This form of strontium is not available in the U.S. Taking very high doses of strontium by mouth is POSSIBLY UNSAFE. High doses of strontium might damage the bones.

Does reverse osmosis remove strontium?

Reverse osmosis systems and water softeners are incredibly effective in removing strontium concentrations.

How does the body get rid of strontium?

Strontium is eliminated from the body through urine, feces, and sweat. Elimination through urine may occur over long periods, when small amounts of strontium are released from bone and do not get recaptured by bone.

What foods are high in strontium?

The bran of grains, the peel of root vegetables, spinach, lettuce, carrots, peas, and beans all contain relatively high levels.

• Brazil nuts are also a hearty source of natural strontium.
• Dairy products like milk and cheese are a good source of natural strontium too.

What is a safe level of strontium?

The EPA has set 4 milligrams of strontium per liter of water as the lifetime health advisory limit — in other words, the maximum level that anyone should routinely consume — and 25 mg/L as the short-term health advisory limit, meaning no one should consume that amount of strontium at any time.