The effects of radium-226 in cattle and predicted impacts of cancer

Abstract

Hydraulic fracturing is a controversial method of natural gas extraction that has gained its fair share of critics. Although research has been conducted on the environmentalimpact of fracking, research concerning naturally occurring radioactive materials (NORM) has been scarce. Radionuclides are known to bioaccumulate in the environment and can have toxic effects on humans. This study aims to examine the extent of biomagnification of radium-226 in soil, crops and animals. Fluid samples from areas near fracking sites will be compared with samples from non-fracking sites via gamma spectroscopy. Homogenized samples of soil and crops will be analyzed by gamma spectroscopy while milk and cattle meat samples will undergo alpha spectroscopy. This will provide a clear image of the process of bioaccumulation and magnification of radionuclides in the environment as a byproduct of fracking.