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Permalink Reply by Billy Park Whyde on August 7, 2012 at 3:20pm

In Licking County Ohio the Health Department was at full war against smokers we need a smoking ban to protect public health, it's our duty! However upon their own web site Licking County may have the highest radon gas concentrations in the US with some homes testing at 400% above the EPA levels. That is the same as smoking 8 packs of cigarettes a day!  Most radon gas is from uranium that was brought down glaciers ans is the decomposing product . Looks like Licking County was the drop off point of the glaciers. 

  It is OK in Licking County to bring your baby home from the hospital and let the baby breath radon gas as the health department has not mandated testing or removal but don't light up a cigarette among your friends at a VFW!

 If methane was in a area where the soil was loose/porous the methane and radon might be found but the chances are the radon was there first.

 Radon gas is attributed to 20% of all lung cancer in non smokers ( they don't give a figure upon radon causing cancer in smokers) 

  

Radhttp://www.epa.gov/radon/pubs/citguide.htmlon can be found all over the U.S.

Radon comes from the natural (radioactive) breakdown of uranium in soil, rock and water and gets into the air you breathe. Radon can be found all over the U.S. It can get into any type of building — homes, offices, and schools — and result in a high indoor radon level. But you and your family are most likely to get your greatest exposure at home, where you spend most of your time.

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Permalink Reply by Billy Park Whyde on August 7, 2012 at 11:46pm

Radon Gas came into being an issue when ore miners had a high incidence of ling cancer. Since they could nit blame it upon smoking as the miners mist of which were not smokers they had to find a culprit and Radon Gas was the answer. 

 I was raised in Licking County with the high amounts of Radon Gas there by the HIGH AMOUNTS people should be dropping like flies from lung cancer but there not. Of course it take decades sometimes for cancer to develop. But then again perhaps the ageing process has more to do with it but even then smokers have been known to live past 100 so I look at it this way and figure I am smarter than the Medical Industry, We are all going to die someday and it will be at the time and place God chooses if your a non believer  as fate will have it.

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Permalink Reply by Dave on August 8, 2012 at 1:05am

yes radon causes purple squirrels and fracktivists to have the same colored purple hair

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Permalink Reply by Laurel on August 7, 2012 at 11:35pm

Country Driver,

Radon is a naturally occurring gas found in areas where there are limestone formations in the strata.  It is caused by deteriorating uranium within the limestone.  Where I live in South Central Pa we have high levels of radon and you will see mitigation pipes on most homes.  We are located over limestone caves so it makes perfect sense to expect elevated radon levels. 

While I do not think radon goes in tandem with shale gas, the act of drilling "could" serve to release existing radon gas as the drill passes through a limestone strata.  I am supposing it is possible, however, a link between radon gas and natural gas has not been established and my guess is it never will be. 

Of course the wild, frothing-at-the-mouth fracktivists will welcome your line of thinking.  It's the blame Bush syndrome all over again.  Let's blame gas drilling on every ill to befall mankind......!  One thing about the fracktivist crowd, they may be certifiably bat-s*#t crazy, but they are persistent and committed.

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Permalink Reply by Jack Straw on August 8, 2012 at 4:33am

RE: "While I do not think radon goes in tandem with shale gas, the act of drilling "could" serve to release existing radon gas as the drill passes through a limestone strata."

The purpose of casing a well and cementing in that casing is so that nothing other than the producing horizon is in communication with the inside of the well bore.

When the drill bit passes through a limestone, there is drilling fluid (mud) circulated through the well bore.

The drilling fluid is designed to form a "mud cake" which penetrates a short distance (inches) into the drilled formation (effectively sealing it off temporarily - until casing is set and cemented). This mud invasion (penetration) would preclude any significant amount of radon to reach the atmosphere (were it present).

If radon release from the drilling of a well were a problem, the men working all day on the drill floor (right over the open hole) would be those most exposed - but there have been no problems.

The principal dangers of radon lie in situations such as basements, where radon gas coming from soil and bedrock enters a confined/unventilated space; here it can accumulate in amounts that can effect the long term health of those such exposed.

Where radon gas is an issue; there is a simple solution - adequate ventilation.

 

All IMHO,

                  JS

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