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Radioactive Dangers of Fracking – ver 2

This article examines the dangers of radioactive materials in fracking, including radioactive liquids and solids, radioactive wastewater, and the contamination of methane gas with radon gas. It also discusses the sources of radioactivity in the Earth's crust and the potential health risks associated with naturally occurring radioactive materials (NORM) such as radon and radium. Overall, the article highlights the need for comprehensive studies and monitoring of radionuclides in fracking operations to protect public health and the environment.

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Radioactive Dangers of Fracking – ver 2

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  1. Radioactive Dangers of Fracking – ver 2 Dr Ian FairlieConsultant on Radiation in the EnvironmentLondonUnited Kingdom www.ianfairlie.com

  2. Radioactivity from Fracking (a) bring up radioactive liquids and solids (b) radioactive wastes in produced waters, sludges and pipeline scales (c) methane gas is contaminated with radon gas - can’t separate them

  3. Cuadrilla in Lancashire • The Independent (January 29 2014) stated Cuadrilla recently announced that it stopped its fracking operations in Lancashire in order to apply for Authorisations under the Radioactive Substances Act 1993 to dump radioactive wastewater http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/caudrilla-withdraws-applications-to-frack-in-lancashire-after-encountering-problems-with-radioactive-waste-disposal-9088986.html

  4. Radionuclides in Fracking Wastewater: Managing a Toxic Blend http://ehp.niehs.nih.gov/122-a50/

  5. Where does this radioactivity come from? - Earth’s crust

  6. Radioactivity in Earth’s Crust • ~1,400 becquerels per kg on average • uranium-238 (U-238), thorium-232 (Th-232) and potassium-40 (K-40) • have very long halflives near to or exceeding the age of the Earth

  7. Radioactivity in deep Earth "The decay of uranium, thorium, and potassium-40 in the Earth's mantle is thought to be the main source of heat that keeps the outer core liquid and drives mantle convection, which in turn drives plate tectonics." Biever, Celeste (27 July 2005). First measurements of Earth's core radioactivity New Scientist. "Potassium-40 heats up Earth's core". physicsweb. 7 May 2003. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Uranium#Prehistoric_naturally_occurring_fission

  8. Radionuclides in Earth’s Crust • usually called Naturally Occurring Radioactive Material (NORM) • sounds reassuring, but it isn’t • NORM is actually dangerous • Why? • decay chains, • Rn and Ra, • Po

  9. Radon and Radium • “Since Rn and Ra are among the most radio-toxic substances existing, causing lung and bone cancer at relatively low concentrations…special attention must be devoted to their appearance in nature.” Choppin GR et al. Radiochemistry and Nuclear Chemistry. Butterworth–Heinemann Ltd. Oxford 1995. page 108

  10. Polonium-210 used in the murder of Russian dissident Alexander Litvinenko in London, 2006

  11. Polonium -210 • the Po-210 used to kill Litvinenko did not come from NORM: it very likely came from reprocessing spent nuclear fuel • however it was chosen by the perpetrators for its supremely lethal properties

  12. Radioactive levels in oil/gas wells *IAEA 2003, Safety Report Series 34.International Atomic Energy Agency, 2003, Radiation Protection and the Management of Radioactive Waste in the Oil and Gas http://www-pub.iaea.org/MTCD/publications/PDF/TRS419_web.pdf

  13. Radon Levels - Bq/m3 *IAEA 2003, Safety Report Series 34.International Atomic Energy Agency, 2003, Radiation Protection and the Management of Radioactive Waste in the Oil and Gas http://www-pub.iaea.org/MTCD/publications/PDF/TRS419_web.pdf

  14. Radium levels in water

  15. Fracking in Your Area? • Demand data on radium levels in discharge waters, in sludges, in pipework • Demand data on radon gas concentrations in methane, and produced water • Demand baseline studies before any drilling starts

  16. a fracking future? http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2562431/Chevron-apologizes-residents-small-town-fracking-exploded-burned-five-days-leaving-one-dead-coupon-free-PIZZA.html

  17. or a renewable future…?

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