What is it about?
Radiation is naturally occurring. Some geological formations have more radiation than others. Fracking and other oil & gas operations can release naturally occurring radiation. Many states have regulations defining radiation exposure levels needed to protect the health of workers and the general public. Certain states with significant oil and gas operations enacted additional regulations to address oil and gas operations specifically. This paper examines variations in state regulations designed to protect workers and the general public from radiation due to fracking and other oil & gas operations.
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Why is it important?
Increases in oil and gas operations generally and increases in fracking closer to residential populations may lead to greater exposure to radiation for workers and the general public. This paper examines variation in state exposure levels to give guidance whether people in different states can rely on adequate protection from undue levels of radiation from oil & gas operations. Data for this paper can be found published at: http://lawatlas.org/datasets/regulation-of-wastes-containing-tenorm
Perspectives
Taking precautions to protect workers from undue exposure to radiation is easy and inexpensive. Radiation dosimeter badges, like those worn in by workers in hospitals and doctors officers where x-rays are taken, can protect oil & gas workers from unhealthy levels of radiations.
Elizabeth Geltman
elizabeth.geltman@sph.cuny.edu
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: Variance in State Protection from Exposure to NORM and TENORM Wastes Generated During Unconventional Oil and Gas Operations: Where We Are and Where We Need to Go, NEW SOLUTIONS A Journal of Environmental and Occupational Health Policy, February 2018, SAGE Publications,
DOI: 10.1177/1048291118755387.
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