Conclusion My study of radon gas from Marcellus shale calculated a range of radon at the wellhead, depending on the potential parameters in the geological formation and called for independent testing of radon at the wellhead. The paper also stated uncertainties and suggested methods of reducing the radon concentrations reaching homes. This is on firm ground. The reports by RSI and Anspaugh use present-day measurements, as well as one can tell, of radon in one pipeline heading towards New York City. It is not known how much of this gas is from the Gulf Coast compared to the Marcellus shale in Pennsylvania, and is a simple snapshot in time. As more natural gas is transported from Pennsylvania, the radon concentrations reaching homes will rise. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- [1] RSI, An Assessment of the Lung Cancer Risk Associated with the Presence of Radon in Natural as Used for Cooking in Homes in New York State, July 2012, prepared for Texas Eastern Transmission, LP and Algonquin Gas Transmission, LLC, in FERC Docket CP11-56. [2] United States Environmental Protection Agency. EPA Assessment of Risks from Radon in Homes. 2003 June; (EPA-402-R-03-003). [3] EIA.gov [homepage on the internet]. United States Department of Energy, Energy Information Administration. Residential Energy Consumption Survey (RECS), RECS Survey Data; [updated 1999; cited 2012 February 23]. Available from: eia.gov/consumption/residential/data/2009/#undefined [4] Anspaugh, L, Scientific Issues Concerning Radon in Natural Gas, Texas Eastern Transmission, LP and Algonquin Gas Transmission, LLC, New Jersey–New York Expansion Project, Docket No. CP11-56, July 2012. [5] Van Netten C, Kan K, Anderson J, and Meelay D. Radon-222 and Gammy Ray Levels Associated with the Collection, Processing, Transmission, and Utilization of Natural Gas. AIHA Journal. 1998 Sept;59.9:622 – 628. [6] Johnson, R., et al, Johnson RH, Jr, Bernhardt DE, Nelson NS, Calley HW, Jr. Assessment of potential radiological health effects from radon in natural gas. Washington, DC: Environmental Protection Agency; Report EPA-520/1-73-004; 1973. [7] Dixon, D.W., Radon Exposures from the Use of Natural Gas in Buildings, Radiat Prot Dosimetry (2001) 97 (3): 259-264. [8] Gogolak CV. Review of 222Rn in Natural Gas Produced from Unconventional Sources. Environmental Measurements Laboratory, United States Department of Energy. 1980; (DOE/EML-385). [9] Leventhal J, Crock J, and Malcolm M; United States Department of the Interior, Geological Survey. Geochemistry of trace elements and uranium in Devonian shales of the Appalachian Basin. 1981; (Open File Report 81-778). [10] Swanson, Vernon E. "Uranium Content of Black Shales." Uranium in Carboneous Rocks. Geological Survey Professional Paper 356-A. (1960): 1-49. Print. [11] RAdata, Inc., 27 Ironia Road, Flanders, NJ. [12] Bowser-Morner, 4518 Taylorsville Road, Dayton, OH. [13] Resnikoff, M, Radon in Natural Gas from Marcellus Shale, DOI: 10.1615/EthicsBiologyEngMed.2012006074, pages 317-331. [14] Marcinowski F, Lucas RM, Yeager WM. National and regional distributions of airborne radon concentrations in U.S. homes. Health Phys 66:699–706; 1994.
Posted on: Thu, 04 Jul 2013 04:54:49 +0000
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