DEP study finds 'no risk to human health' from radiation in wastewater from Pa. landfills

March 13, 2026 - 23:28

A comprehensive two-year investigation by the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection has concluded that the levels of radium found in wastewater from landfills across the state do not present a risk to human health. The study specifically examined leachate, which is liquid that has percolated through waste, and wastewater treatment plant discharges.

The research focused on technologically enhanced naturally occurring radioactive material, often abbreviated as TENORM. This material, which includes radium, can become concentrated through industrial processes, such as those in the oil and gas industry. The concern was whether these materials, after being disposed of in landfills, could lead to hazardous concentrations in discharged water.

State environmental officials sampled and analyzed wastewater from a cross-section of landfills and treatment facilities. The results consistently showed radium concentrations well below federal health-based standards. Regulators emphasized that the findings indicate existing treatment and disposal methods are effectively managing this material. The department stated the study provides scientific assurance that current practices are protective of both public health and the environment, addressing long-standing questions from communities and policymakers regarding potential radiation exposure from these waste streams.