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

Thu Jan 14 14:03:07 CST 2016

This can be a problem when the supply lines are disposed of, either to a land fill or to a metal recycling center.  I, personally, have found pieces of pipe from natural gas system while surveying in a land fill (it was a stupid thing to do, but it wasn't my fault).  I have heard of railcars full of scrapped pipeline being rejected at the portal monitor at a recycling facility.  

-----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 10:22 AM
To: The International Radiation Protection (Health Physics) Mailing List
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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