[ RadSafe ] Apparently large amount of Radon in Natural Gas Release near Los Angeles

Wed Jan 13 17:56:41 CST 2016

A couple of years ago I received an analysis of some condensate in a natural gas distribution system from the utility operator.  The analysis, performed by a qualified commercial laboratory with a national reputation, showed significant amounts of the 22-year lead and its decay products.

-----Original Message-----
From: radsafe-bounces at health.phys.iit.edu [mailto:radsafe-bounces at health.phys.iit.edu] On Behalf Of Otto Raabe
Sent: Tuesday, January 12, 2016 12:55 PM
To: radsafe at agni.phys.iit.edu
Subject: Re: [ RadSafe ] Apparently large amount of Radon in Natural Gas Release near Los Angeles

Since the half lives of radon and its decay products are only a few days, surely the long residence time of natural gas in storage tanks and pipes will result in the nearly complete decay before use.

Otto Raabe

On 1/11/2016 7:42 PM, Joseph Preisig wrote:
> Radsafe/Roger:
>        Don't know what the radon levels are in the natural gas.  Maybe 
> some HP should go in and take a sample for counting at the gas well.  
> Wear Scott Air Pack???  Count the samples and let all concerned know.
>
>       I don't know if the natural gas is heavier than air.  If so, it 
> could fill in a little valley in California and choke off all the life 
> in such a valley.  The radon is a secondary threat.
>       There are people who are proficient in capping natural gas wells 
> in the petroleum industry.  Someone call them.  The gas well isn't on 
> fire, right???  Is there a well head or well casings in place.  If 
> necessary, pour a concrete base around the well and let it harden.  
> This might keep gas from getting out through the soil around the well.  
> Call BP ---they capped a well underwater in the Gulf of Mexico a while ago, remember???
>       The procedure is fairly simple if some sort of well head is 
> above ground.  Make a capping pipe which will closely fit over the well head.
> There should be a working big valve assembly at the top of the capping 
> pipe.  The capping pipe is placed with a crane or whatever above the 
> well head.  It may be necessary to have side ropes for people to hold 
> the capping pipe in place.  The valve should be open.  Once the 
> capping pipe is in place, attach via screws or whatever the capping pipe to the well head.
> Do not weld it in place???!!!
>       Once the capping pipe is in place firmly, slowly close the valve 
> and avoid sparking.  Once the valve is closed, make the well head to capping
> pipe attachment assembly stronger.   There, DONE???  Repeat process if it
> doesn't work the first time.
>
>       Joe Preisig
>
>
>
>
> On Mon, Jan 11, 2016 at 10:10 PM, Roger Helbig <rwhelbig at gmail.com> wrote:
>
>> Here is NY Times article on the gas leak from a storage well that has 
>> been leaking since October and has led to Governor Brown declaring an 
>> emergency.
>>
>>
>> http://www.nytimes.com/2016/01/07/us/california-governor-declares-eme
>> rgency-over-los-angeles-gas-leak.html
>>
>> On Mon, Jan 11, 2016 at 7:06 PM, Roger Helbig <rwhelbig at gmail.com> wrote:
>>> Here is how news and anti-nukes are playing this, ignoring the fact 
>>> that this appears to be naturally occuring radioactive material and 
>>> has nothing to do with nuclear power or weapons
>>>
>>> Roger Helbig
>>>
>>> ---------- Forwarded message ----------
>>> From: nuclear-news <comment-reply at wordpress.com>
>>> Date: Mon, Jan 11, 2016 at 6:18 PM
>>> Subject: [New post] Massive gas blowout in Los Angeles now releasing 
>>> radioactive material
>>> To: rwhelbig at gmail.com
>>>
>>>
>>> Christina MacPherson posted: "TV: Radioactive material reportedly 
>>> now being released from massive gas blowout in LA — Byproduct of 
>>> Uranium —
>>> Expert: “A lot” has been detected in area… Very dangerous… May be 
>>> coming up from ground into people’s homes — Official: Levels can 
>>> cause “signif"
>>> Respond to this post by replying above this line
>>>
>>>
>>> Massive gas blowout in Los Angeles now releasing radioactive 
>>> material
>>>
>>> by Christina MacPherson
>>>
>>> TV: Radioactive material reportedly now being released from massive 
>>> gas blowout in LA — Byproduct of Uranium — Expert: “A lot” has been 
>>> detected in area… Very dangerous… May be coming up from ground into 
>>> people’s homes — Official: Levels can cause “significant long-term 
>>> health effects” (VIDEO)
>>>
>> http://enenews.com/tv-reports-radioactive-material-being-released-mas
>> sive-gas-blowout-la-byproduct-uranium-expert-lot-being-measured-area-
>> very-dangerous-be-coming-ground-peoples-living-rooms-bedrooms-nurseri
>> es?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+ENENew
>> s+%28Energy+News%29
>>> Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Jan 8, 2016: Their animals are dying… their 
>>> fish are dying in their fish bowls, their dogs are dying, their cats 
>>> are getting sick. And their children are getting sick — they’re 
>>> suffering nose bleeds, they’re suffering terrible debilitating 
>>> migraine headaches, asthma attacks, respiratory infections, eye 
>>> infections, ear infections, stomach ailments… The health impact — 
>>> it’s not just methane coming out of that hole… This is global 
>>> crisis, more importantly this is a local crisis. Because not only do 
>>> you have methane — you have benzene, toluene, xylene, which are carcinogenic.
>>> You have hydrogen sulfide, sulfur dioxide — which are neurotoxic, 
>>> which can injure your brain, affect memory, injure your kidneys, 
>>> your liver, your other bodily organs. There’s also a lot of radon 
>>> gas being measured in the area. People believe — we don’t know if 
>>> this is true — the gas that is leaking at 2 miles deep is now coming 
>>> out and pushing that radon up into people’s living rooms, their 
>>> bedrooms, their nurseries.
>>>
>>> Lawyers and Settlements, Jan 7, 2016: The leak has caused a 
>>> continuous flow of gases and fluids. Methane alone is leaking 
>>> 100,000 pounds per hour, according to Los Angeles city attorney Mike 
>>> Feuer. Along with that greenhouse gas is methyl mercaptans (odorants 
>>> added to gas to aid in leak detection) and aromatic hydrocarbons. 
>>> More concernedly, health officials have identified benzene and radon, both known carcinogens.
>>>
>>> CBS LA, Dec 11, 2015: Dr. Cyrus Rangan, the Director of Toxicology 
>>> and Assessment for the county, came to CBS2/KCAL9 to answer questions….
>>> It’s been reported that radon is being released…  “This is a 
>>> theoretical possibility,” Dr. Rangan said, “and when you’re 
>>> addressing a problem that might be several hundred or even several 
>>> thousand feet deep, you might generate what are called preferential 
>>> pathways for something like radon, beneath the Earth’s surface, to 
>>> make its way up to the surface. So primarily our concern about radon 
>>> is from the worker’s exposure, for the people actually doing the 
>>> repair job. If we find radon there, we can address the situation. 
>>> And if radon does exist in the work site then we may need to have to 
>>> look at the residential community and monitor for it.”
>>>
>>> Lawyers and Settlements, Dec 12, 2015: There is the issue of radon, 
>>> a naturally occurringbyproduct of uranium… as SoCalGas and its 
>>> partners bore into the ground in an attempt to stem a leak that is 
>>> unleashing a constant cloud of gas into the atmosphere, radon has 
>>> crept into the conversation.
>>>
>>> Robert Kennedy Jr, Dec 17, 2015: Public officials and the gas 
>>> industry have a tricky and deceptive way of saying things. Methane 
>>> itself is not dangerous… methane is an indicator that other gases 
>>> are involved, including radon and benzene, both carcinogenic and 
>>> very dangerous… gas can escape through any perforation in the earth 
>>> and on the way up to the surface, it can encounter the aquifers 
>>> underground, where it will leave behind chemicals, including benzene and radon.
>>>
>>> Erin Brockovich, Dec 22, 2015: [B]enzene and radon [are] the 
>>> carcinogens that are commonly found in natural gas.
>>>
>>> Los Angeles Daily News, Dec 2, 2015: [R]adon gas, which may 
>>> potentially be released during repair operations, is also a concern 
>>> [L.A. County Department of Public Health Interim Director Cynthia 
>>> Harding] said.
>>>
>>> Los Angeles Times, Dec 2, 2015: Los Angeles County Supervisor 
>>> Michael D. Antonovich said a new report by county public health 
>>> officials had concluded that since the gas leak has continued for so 
>>> long, emissions levels could produce “significant long-term health 
>>> effects, including cancer.” Antonovich said the report had 
>>> identified benzene as the “chemical of greatest concern,” because it is known to cause cancer.
>>> It also cited concerns about radon, another known carcinogen.
>>>
>>> KPCC, Dec 9, 2015: Public Health Director Cynthia Harding told 
>>> members of the Board of Supervisors in a Dec. 1 letter [that radon] 
>>> could also be released as the leak is repaired.
>>>
>>> Los Angeles Times, Dec 20, 2015: Health officials are also concerned 
>>> that the company’s attempt to fix the leak by drilling into the 
>>> ground to construct a relief well could release radon, a 
>>> radioactive, naturally occurring and odorless gas that is found in 
>>> geologic formations and causes lung cancer.
>>>
>>> Watch an interview with Robert Kennedy here
>>>
>>> Christina MacPherson | January 12, 2016 at 2:18 am | Categories:
>>> incidents, USA | URL: http://wp.me/phgse-lDB
>>>
>>> Comment    See all comments
>>>
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