Radioactive Isotopes Found in Fracking Waste
US oil and natural gas production, has been boosted in recent years by a drilling process known as hydraulic fracturing, commonly called “fracking.”
But this practice has also been criticized for its possible impact on the environment because of the wastewater this method generates.
A new study published in the American Chemical Society’s Environmental Science and Technology, which examined solid well waste from Marcellus shale in Pennsylvania, finds that the waste contains naturally occurring radioactive material that had not been previously reported.
In addition to the early reports of uranium 238 and radium 226, the study indicates that collected waste samples also contain elevated levels of the radioactive isotopes uranium-234, thorium-230, lead-210 and polonium-210.
Uranium-238 and radium-226 have been reported in previous such samples.
Solid waste from horizontal gas wells contains radioactive material that ends up in landfills. (American Chemical Society)
NM interim Committee is hearing Produced Water issue in the natural resource and water committee this week Sept 6&7 in Ruidoso,NM