Iodine-131 is a radioactive form of iodine widely used in the medical field for the diagnosis and treatment of thyroid disease. Trace amounts are present in waterways around the world as well as in our rivers; however, the drinking water levels pose no risk to public health, and here in Philadelphia the average levels are well below EPA limits.
Although our drinking water is safe and is monitored 24/7, it’s PWD’s responsibility to look for things that can challenge our water quality. Join us tomorrow, March 28, at 5:30 p.m. at the Fairmount Water Works Interpretive Center for a panel discussion of iodine-131. Our partners in the EPA the PA Department of Environmental Protection and the City’s Department of Health will be on hand to share information about joint efforts to track down sources of iodine-131 in our region’s watersheds.
