Submitted by Hydro Relief Web

(Clinton, NY – Oct. 7, 2011) James W. Ring, Winslow Professor of Physics Emeritus at Hamilton College asserts that household use of natural gas obtained from hydrofracking in the Marcellus Shale can cause exposure to unacceptably high levels of Radon Gas and Lead. Professor Ring claims that both natural gas and Radon will be generally released by the fracturing process and will move together as a mixed gas out of gas wells and into homes. Also, as the Radon decays, lead is formed in the pipes and into the homes where natural gas is piped.

Radium, Radon and Lead are all health hazards. Lead is a heavy metal that is toxic when ingested or when its dust is breathed in. Radium and Radon cause tissue damage particularly to the lungs when breathed in or when ingested. Next to smoking, Radon is the most potent cause of lung cancer.

The Marcellus Shale contains Radium 226. This has been shown by DEC tests of wastewater in 12 wells drilled in NYS. In 11 of the wells the Radium 226 exceeded the EPA’s limit for safe discharge—in one case by 267 times that concentration.

Proponents of hydrofracking tell us that we need to allow this form of gas drilling in the Marcellus and Utica Shales for our own domestic natural gas needs, while the DEC’s own tests show the potential for Radon and Lead contamination means that the gas can only be used at the great risk of our health and the habitability of our homes. The DEC and New York State elected officials should enforce national health and safety standards and should not allow hydrofracking in New York State.

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