Dr. Conca reports that while many environmental issues whirl around the drilling process known as hydraulic fracturing, or fracking, at least we do not have to worry about radiation. In the most comprehensive study of the subject ever conducted, the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection found that there is no concern of radiation exposure from fracking wells for oil or gas, see PA DEP News Release. Released last week, the study on Technologically-Enhanced Naturally-Occurring Radioactive Material, or TENORM, analyzed the levels of radioactivity associated with oil and gas development in Pennsylvania, particularly fracking. PA DEP Deputy Secretary Vince Brisini said the study concluded there is little potential for harm to workers or the public from radiation exposure from fracking for either oil or gas.
Only a few samples analyzed in the study were found with radiation levels above that of potato chips, which have the highest radioactivity of all foods. Typical sedimentary rocks, sediments and sands contain naturally occurring radioactive materials, called NORM, such as uranium, thorium, potassium-40, carbon-14 and tritium, as well as their daughter products, particularly radon and radium.
Brisini indicated that while the recommendations for future actions contained in the report call for additional studies and efforts, the data is now available to inform management of natural-gas resources and resultant wastes for environmental and health protection.
With 15 million Americans living within a mile from a fracking well, this is an important result. Now the same studies have to be done for carcinogenic volatile organic compounds such as benzene and the xylenes, although these have been done many time over the past 4 decades.
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