[ RadSafe ] Apparently large amount of Radon in Natural Gas

Thu Jan 14 13:05:10 CST 2016

Otto, et al.,
YES. Pb-210 and Po-210 can be a problem for the maintenance workers who access the internals of equipment without monitoring or protection. The lead and polonium levels can be very significant (> million dpm/100 cm^2 was reported at the NORM North America Conference in 2013 at a petrochemical plant turnaround(Halter). There is a direct pathway for ingestion and inhalation of Po-210 as well as the Pb-210. There are similar problems with pigging operations (rouge). The major companies have good health and safety practices, but smaller firms may not. The workers are often not rad trained and subject to public dose limits. The maintenance facilities may or may not be licensed by the State. NRC does not have authority to license those facilities as the progeny are TENORM and not source, byproduct or special nuclear material. The attention with TENORM in oil and gas usually centers around radium, but the lead and polonium cannot be ignored...

There will be a workshop on TENORM from unconventional oil and gas (fracking) put on by NCRP at the HPS midyear meeting, and I encourage all to attend.

Issues relative to TENORM in unconventional oil and gas was highlighted recently by CRCPD in their E-42 report.
http://www.crcpd.org/Pubs/TENORM/E-42_Report_Review%20of%20TENORM.pdf 

While I am at it, someone mentioned the 1973 EPA report on radon in natural gas and provided a link. The two primary authors are still around and active. Ray Johnson many of us know from his many efforts about radiation communication over the years. I just had dinner with him the other night at the local HPS Chapter meeting in DC. Ray will be helping us with the NCRP SC-5 committee on TENORM in the oil and gas committee. The other primary author, Dr. Neal Nelson is still here at EPA. He recently celebrated over 50 years of continuous federal service (PHS > EPA) and despite being of "a certain age," still comes into the office every day working on radiation risk issues. He is a great mentor and a pleasure to work with.

There was a second report that came out in 1977 on radon in liquified petroleum gas, written primarily by Tom Gesell, Ray Johnson and Dave Bernhardt.
The link to that one is:
http://nepis.epa.gov/Exe/ZyNET.exe/9101MCYO.txt?ZyActionD=ZyDocument&Client=EPA&Index=1976%20Thru%201980|Prior%20to%201976|Hardcopy%20Publications&Docs=&Query=520%2F1%2075%20002%20&Time=&EndTime=&SearchMethod=2&TocRestrict=n&Toc=&TocEntry=&QField=&QFieldYear=&QFieldMonth=&QFieldDay=&UseQField=&IntQFieldOp=0&ExtQFieldOp=0&XmlQuery=&File=D%3A\ZYFILES\INDEX%20DATA\76THRU80\TXT\00000032\9101MCYO.txt&User=ANONYMOUS&Password=anonymous&SortMethod=-|h&MaximumDocuments=15&FuzzyDegree=0&ImageQuality=r85g16/r85g16/x150y150g16/i500&Display=hpfr&DefSeekPage=x&SearchBack=ZyActionL&Back=ZyActionS&BackDesc=Results%20page&MaximumPages=1&ZyEntry=1&SeekPage=x  

The boiling point of radon is close to that of ethane, so the radon follows ethane through the refining process and concentrates in those equipment internals.

While these are not new issues, the relatively new practice of horizontal drilling into host formations (as opposed to reservoirs) using enhanced stimulation (fracking shale deposits) has changed the profile of the TENORM residuals. There are larger volumes of cuttings, produced water, sludges, and spent filters to manage, and radium levels can be significant. USGS reported > 20,000 pCi/L in some produced water samples in 2011 in the Marcellus shale in PA. 
(http://pubs.usgs.gov/sir/2011/5135/ ) Other reports are coming out on a routine basis. 

Again, consider attending the mid-year HPS meeting in Austin 2/1 - 2/2 for a NCRP workshop on this topic.

PVE
Philip Egidi
Environmental Scientist
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Radiation Protection Division
Washington, DC
(202) 343-9186 (work)
(970) 209-2885 (Cell)

“The health of the people is the highest law.”
Cicero (106 - 43 BC)

-----Original Message-----
From: radsafe-bounces at health.phys.iit.edu [mailto:radsafe-bounces at health.phys.iit.edu] On Behalf Of Otto Raabe
Sent: Thursday, January 14, 2016 1:22 PM
To: The International Radiation Protection (Health Physics) Mailing List <radsafe at agni.phys.iit.edu>
Subject: Re: [ RadSafe ] Apparently large amount of Radon in Natural Gas Release near Los Angeles

Lead-210 and its decay products are not gaseous so they should adhere to the walls of the supply lines and slowly decay with a 22-year half life.
Is that a problem?

Otto

****************************

On 1/13/2016 3:56 PM, Don Jordan wrote:
> 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 half life 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-em
>>> e 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-ma
>>> s
>>> sive-gas-blowout-la-byproduct-uranium-expert-lot-being-measured-area
>>> - 
>>> very-dangerous-be-coming-ground-peoples-living-rooms-bedrooms-nurser
>>> i 
>>> es?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+ENENe
>>> w
>>> 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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