Contribution of radon in natural gas to the natural radioactivity dose in homes

Barton, C.J.; Moore, Richard E.; Rohwer, P.S.

doi:10.2172/4466559

Cited by 4 publications

(5 citation statements)

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“…(34) Radon concentrations in transmission and distribution systems serving Chicago, Denver, New York City, and the Southwest United States were studied in 1973. 2 A total of 48 gas samples, some duplicates, were collected, and the radon concentration ranged from 18.5 to 4,400 Bq/m 3 . Radon concentration was highest near Denver and lowest in New York City, where the highest of 18 samples was 141 Bq/m 3 .…”

Section: Past Measurements Of Radon In Natural Gasmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…from Natural Gas Johnson (1973) and Barton et al (1973) estimated potential population doses from unvented cooking and heating using U.S. wellhead and distribution system radon concentration measurements, respectively. (1,2) Both concluded that the potential risk from exposure was small compared to background exposure. Gogolak repeated these calculations in 1980 using radon concentration data from shale wells in the Appalachian Basin (non-Marcellus) with similar results.…”

Section: Assessments Of Residential Exposure To Radonmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Johnson () and Barton et al . () estimated potential population doses from unvented cooking and heating using U.S. wellhead and distribution system radon concentration measurements, respectively . Both concluded that the potential risk from exposure was small compared to background exposure.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Exposure is not increased by appliances that are vented to the atmosphere (e.g., fur-naces or water heaters). Though the health risks of radon due to unvented exhaust in U.S. homes have been analyzed in multiple studies, (1)(2)(3)(4)(5)(6)(7) the development of the Marcellus Shale has reignited concerns. Its organic-rich facies contain levels of 238 U, a precursor of radon, ranging from 10 to 100 parts per million (ppm).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Lung Cancer Risk from Radon in Marcellus Shale Gas in Northeast U.S. Homes

2016

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The amount of radon in natural gas varies with its source. Little has been published about the radon from shale gas to date, making estimates of its impact on radon-induced lung cancer speculative. We measured radon in natural gas pipelines carrying gas from the Marcellus Shale in Pennsylvania and West Virginia. Radon concentrations ranged from 1,520 to 2,750 Bq/m (41-74 pCi/L), and the throughput-weighted average was 1,983 Bq/m (54 pCi/L). Potential radon exposure due to the use of Marcellus Shale gas for cooking and space heating using vent-free heaters or gas ranges in northeastern U.S. homes and apartments was assessed. Though the measured radon concentrations are higher than what has been previously reported, it is unlikely that exposure from natural gas cooking would exceed 1.2 Bq/m (<1% of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's action level). Using worst-case assumptions, we estimate the excess lifetime (70 years) lung cancer risk associated with cooking to be 1.8×10 (interval spanning 95% of simulation results: 8.5×10 , 3.4×10 ). The risk profile for supplemental heating with unvented gas appliances is similar. Individuals using unvented gas appliances to provide primary heating may face lifetime risks as high as 3.9×10 . Under current housing stock and gas consumption assumptions, expected levels of residential radon exposure due to unvented combustion of Marcellus Shale natural gas in the Northeast United States do not result in a detectable change in the lung cancer death rates.

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Section: Past Measurements Of Radon In Natural Gasmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Assessments Of Residential Exposure To Radonmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 2 more Smart Citations

Lung Cancer Risk from Radon in Marcellus Shale Gas in Northeast U.S. Homes

2016

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“…Among such human technological activities is the production of energy from natural gas, coal, petroleum, geothermal sources, and uranium fuel Prichard 1975, 1977). Israel (1962), Barton et al (1973aBarton et al ( , 1973b, Wllkening et al (1975), Harley (1973), and Travis et al (1979) have estimated an average natural radon concentration in the United States of 100 to 150 pCi/m^. Because the emanation rates from natural sources of radon, and dispersion, are not spatially or temporally uniform, local natural radon concentrations may exceed this average radon concentration significantly.…”

Section: Meteorologymentioning

confidence: 99%