Back to the Future: Radiation, Fracking and PA PSR

When I recently spoke with Tonyehn Verkitus, PA PSR’s current Executive Director, I learned that radiation pollution in our current environment was still a serious concern, now as a result of the fracking

process in producing gas and oil.

In the 1980’s when I first joined PSR – later, as president of our Philadelphia chapter in the 90’s - we worked hard to communicate to politicians and the public the deadly impact of nuclear weapons, not

only from blast and heat, but also the effects of radiation, which produced in the near term, severe illness and death, as well as longer-term high incidence of cancers and birth defects. From the Second

World War to the present-day, long-term solutions for safely disposing of nuclear waste remain only partially solved.

Ms. Verkitus shared that health problems related to radiation are arising again, now from the radium released as radon gases from fracking into the air and waste water. 

While radiation is only one of several environmental contaminants in this process, it can present

serious cancer risks when not contained. Radon gas is now the second leading cause of lung cancer in our country. And Pennsylvania ranks as the second biggest extractor of fracked gas in the nation after Texas, accounting for 20% of US gas production.

People can be exposed to this radiation in several different ways. They can breathe in radon gas, swallow radioactive materials that get into water or dust, or be exposed to radiation coming from contaminated waste and equipment. These radioactive substances come from natural elements like uranium and thorium that are found in underground rock formations and can be brought to the surface during drilling and fracking.

On another front, the Microsoft Company is trying to re-start the Three Mile Island Nuclear Power Plant, site of the most serious nuclear accident in U.S. history, in order to power AI data centers. PSR PA has provided public comment opposing the move. 

It’s a source of joy and comfort for me now to realize that our leadership continues to carry our health concerns and interventions as physicians beyond our offices and hospitals into our communities and

the larger world around us.

PSR PA continues to push for more research and regulations that control and limit the spread of these pollutants into our water and soil.

It’s important for us all to note that this battle for safety and public health is once again being presented to our representatives in the PA State House.

Rob Garfield MD

Associate Clinical Professor

Department of Psychiatry

University of Pennsylvania