Your reporter was correct to quote myself as saying I am concerned over the prospective radiation risk from fracked gas.
However your readers should not take my word for it that there is a concern.
Health minister Anna Soubry has told Labour MP Paul Flynn in a written Parliamentary answer Public Health England (PHE, formerly the Health Protection Agency) "is preparing a report identifying potential public health issues and concerns, including radon (release/emissions) [my emphasis] that might be associated with aspects of hydraulic fracturing, also referred to as fracking. The report is due out for public consultation in the summer. Once released for public consultation, the report will be freely available from the PHE website."
(Hansard, 20 May: Column 570W): "PHE is concerned to evaluate the potential risks of radon gas being pumped into citizens’ homes as part of the shale gas stream. Unless the gas is stored for several days to allow the radon's radioactivity to naturally reduce, this is potentially very dangerous."
Radon is unquestionably the leading cause of lung cancer in non-smokers.
Initially radon released from its virtually sealed underground locations will be in monatomic suspension, but then it accretes onto dust particles, pipework, etc, and some of it may remain suspended in the gas and come out in our cookers.
The current concern about how much radon is likely to be piped into people's kitchens was spurred by a report last year by Dr Marvin Resnikoff, of Radioactive Waste Management Associates, who has over 40 years experience in this field.
Dr Resnikoff estimated radon levels from the Marcellus gas field - the nearest one being exploited to New York - as up to 70 times the average.
Finally, may I also draw attention to a related radioactive risk detailed in a report by the respected technical consultancy, DET NORSKE VERITAS on "Recommended Practice 'Risk Management of Shale Gas Developments and Operations' (DNV-RP-U301, January 2013, Sec.6 Environmental Risk Management – Page 21) which raises the concern over radioactively contaminated equipment and wastes from fracking: "Shales may contain naturally occurring radioactive materials (NORM) that can be brought to the surface through cuttings, flowback fluid, produced brine or accumulated as scale on pipes and tanks. Typically concentrations have been considered too low to be a health risk. However, if it becomes concentrated, such as on work equipment, this risk of exposure for workers will increase."
I am all for creating new jobs in the energy sector, as long as they are sustainable.
The public surely will demand the unadulterated facts on fracking.
Public Health England's forthcoming report is eagerly awaited.
Dr David Lowry Environmental policy and research consultant; Stoneleigh
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