Poster Details
INVESTIGATING RADIUM ISOTOPE ACTIVITIES AND ACTIVITY RATIOS IN MARCELLUS SHALE STREAMS
Increased hydraulic fracturing activity in the Marcellus Shale region has the potential to pollute surface water at an unknown scale. Produced waters from hydraulic fracturing often contain high levels of radium, so spills could potentially lead to elevated radium levels in surface water. In 2015 and 2016, we measured levels of four radium isotopes (223Ra, 224Ra, 226Ra and 228Ra) at 88 stream sites within the Marcellus Shale with varying levels of hydraulic fracturing. Activities of 223Ra, 224Ra and 228Ra were measured on a radium delayed coincidence counter (RaDeCC) system, and 226Ra activities were measured on a RAD7 radon detector. Differences were observed between sites that were impacted by hydraulic fracturing and those that were not. Additionally, differences were observed between sites in Virginia and Maryland, neither of which have hydraulic fracturing. Correlations between the intensity of hydraulic fracturing and other landscape characteristics were also investigated.
Abigail Dias (Primary Presenter/Author), American University, ad0780a@student.american.edu;
Karen Knee (Co-Presenter/Co-Author), American University, knee@american.edu;
Colin Casey (Co-Presenter/Co-Author), American University, cc9869a@student.american.edu;