Lung Cancer Risk from Radon in Marcellus Shale Gas in Northeast U.S. Homes

Austin L. Mitchell, W. Michael Griffin and Elizabeth A. Casman

Risk Analysis, 2016, vol. 36, issue 11, 2105-2119

Abstract: The amount of radon in natural gas varies with its source. Little has been published about the radon from shale gas to date, making estimates of its impact on radon‐induced lung cancer speculative. We measured radon in natural gas pipelines carrying gas from the Marcellus Shale in Pennsylvania and West Virginia. Radon concentrations ranged from 1,520 to 2,750 Bq/m3 (41–74 pCi/L), and the throughput‐weighted average was 1,983 Bq/m3 (54 pCi/L). Potential radon exposure due to the use of Marcellus Shale gas for cooking and space heating using vent‐free heaters or gas ranges in northeastern U.S. homes and apartments was assessed. Though the measured radon concentrations are higher than what has been previously reported, it is unlikely that exposure from natural gas cooking would exceed 1.2 Bq/m3 (

Date: 2016
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