Radon In Natural Gas Research Articles

Lung Cancer Risk from Radon in Marcellus Shale Gas in Northeast U.S. Homes.

The amount of radon in natural gas varies with its source. Little has been published about the radon from shale gas to date, making estimates of its impact on radon-induced lung cancer speculative. We measured radon in natural gas pipelines carrying gas from the Marcellus Shale in Pennsylvania and West Virginia. Radon concentrations ranged from 1,520 to 2,750 Bq/m3 (41-74 pCi/L), and the throughput-weighted average was 1,983 Bq/m3 (54 pCi/L). Potential radon exposure due to the use of Marcellus Shale gas for cooking and space heating using vent-free heaters or gas ranges in northeastern U.S. homes and apartments was assessed. Though the measured radon concentrations are higher than what has been previously reported, it is unlikely that exposure from natural gas cooking would exceed 1.2 Bq/m3 (<1% of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's action level). Using worst-case assumptions, we estimate the excess lifetime (70 years) lung cancer risk associated with cooking to be 1.8×10-4 (interval spanning 95% of simulation results: 8.5×10-5 , 3.4×10-4 ). The risk profile for supplemental heating with unvented gas appliances is similar. Individuals using unvented gas appliances to provide primary heating may face lifetime risks as high as 3.9×10-3 . Under current housing stock and gas consumption assumptions, expected levels of residential radon exposure due to unvented combustion of Marcellus Shale natural gas in the Northeast United States do not result in a detectable change in the lung cancer death rates.

Pennsylvania's technologically enhanced, naturally occurring radioactive material experiences and studies of the oil and gas industry.

This presentation provides an overview of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania's experiences and ongoing studies related to technologically enhanced, naturally occurring radioactive material (TENORM) in the oil and gas industry. It has been known for many years that Pennsylvania's geology is unique, with several areas having relatively high levels of natural uranium and thorium. In the 1950s, a few areas of the state were evaluated for commercial uranium production. In the late 1970s, scoping studies of radon in homes prompted the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) Bureau of Radiation Protection (BRP) to begin planning for a larger state-wide radon study. The BRP and Oil and Gas Bureau also performed a TENORM study of produced water in the early 1990s for a number of conventional oil and gas wells. More recently, BRP and the Bureau of Solid Waste developed radiation monitoring regulations for all Pennsylvania solid waste disposal facilities. These were implemented in 2001, prompting another evaluation of oil and gas operations and sludge generated from the treatment of conventionally produced water and brine but mainly focused on the disposal of TENORM solid waste in the state's Resource Conservation and Recovery Act Subtitle D landfills. However, since 2008, the increase in volumes of gas well wastewater and levels of Ra observed in the unconventional shale gas well flow-back fracking water has compelled DEP to fully re-examine these oil and gas operations. Specifically, with BRP in the lead, a new TENORM study of oil and gas operations and related wastewater treatment operations has been initiated (), supported by an American National Standards Institute standard on TENORM () and a U.S. Government Accountability Office report on shale resource development and risks (). This study began in early 2013 and will examine the potential public and worker radiation exposure and environmental impact as well as re-evaluate TENORM waste disposal. This presentation summarizes conventional and unconventional oil and gas well operations, geology and respective uranium/thorium content, radium content in oil and gas wastewater, treatment solids, radon in natural gas, the scope of other TENORM issues in the state, regulatory framework, national regulations and guidance. It also provides an overview of past and the status of ongoing TENORM studies in the Commonwealth (; Rowan and Kraemer 2012; ).

Radon measurement of natural gas using alpha scintillation cells

Due to their sensitivity and ease of use, alpha-scintillation cells are being increasingly utilized for measurements of radon (222Rn) in natural gas. Laboratory studies showed an average increase of 7.3% in the measurement efficiency of alpha-scintillation cells when filled with less-dense natural gas rather than regular air. A theoretical calculation comparing the atomic weight and density of air to that of natural gas suggests a 6–7% increase in the detection efficiency when measuring radon in the cells. A correction is also applicable when the sampling location and measurement laboratory are at different elevations. These corrections to the measurement efficiency need to be considered in order to derive accurate concentrations of radon in natural gas.

Radon in Natural Gas from Marcellus Shale

A potential public health hazard associated with radon in natural gas from the Marcellus Shale formation should be investigated by regulatory agencies. Unlike present sources for natural gas, located in Texas and Louisiana, the Marcellus Shale formation is considerably closer to New York consumers and the radon concentrations at wellheads in New York and Pennsylvania are higher than the national average for natural gas wells. Using a simple Fortran program that simulates the production of radon in the well bore and transit to the well head, we calculate the wellhead concentrations of radon in natural gas from Marcellus Shale. Then accounting for the transit time to consumers, and the average dilution in homes, including smaller apartment volumes in urban areas, we determine the potential health effects of releasing radon in natural gas from unvented kitchen stoves, using Environmental Protection Agency data. While several uncertainties must be resolved, the potential health effects require investigation by regulatory agencies.

The technologically enhanced natural radiation environment.

Abstract A new category for human radiation exposure, technologically enhanced natural radiation (TENR), is proposed. The purpose of the new category is to permit clear distinction between truly natural human radiation exposure and exposure which occurs due to alteration of the natural sources by non-nuclear technology. Examples of TENR, such as radium emission from coal fired plants, radon in natural gas, radium in fertilizer, radon in water and enhanced cosmic ray exposure in high altitude aircraft are discussed. It is concluded that creation of the TENR category would be useful because (1) it would facilitate direct comparison of increments to the radiation environment due to nuclear and conventional activities, (2) it would direct research to TENR which would perhaps uncover significant human exposure and (3) it would permit regulatory authorities to control unambiguously TENR exposures without having to decide in each instance whether the exposure was natural or man-made.