Radioactivity in the oil and gas industry discussed
BELMONT COUNTY, Ohio —
A journalist featured in Rolling Stone Magazine was in Belmont County Friday night giving a talk on his findings when it comes to radioactivity in the oil and gas industry and how workers are not properly protected.

In response, Mike Chadsey with the Oil and Gas Association said, “What we’re hearing tonight is not the normal bashing of oil and gas, this report goes beyond that– it’s a direct assault against our people.”

Spearheading the controversial topic was Justin Nobel, a science and environmental journalist.

He says he’s researched radioactivity within the oil and gas industry for almost two years and claims that the risks involved when dealing with these materials are quite serious.

“The industry has known for some time that they exist and workers have actually gotten sick and there have been legal cases on this issue,” said Nobel. “And exposure to radioactive materials on the job have been linked to cancers.”

Nobel has a particular concern with brine trucks which he claims carry substances of toxic salts, heavy metals and a radioactive element known as radium.

“There’s enough radium in the average Marcellous brine truck that it should appropriately be labeled with a radioactive placard–that has not happened which means a driver does not have to be informed about what they’re carrying. If it was labeled appropriately, that driver would need hazmat training.”

But Chadsey countered that argument saying, “We have been using injection wells in Ohio since the early 80s. That means we have a very well-regulated and well understood program– so not only the brine haulers but also our injection well folks have a very strict set of regulations they have to follow.”

Dan Alfaro, an oil and gas proponent, also commented, “The health and safety of its workers is a top priority for the oil and natural gas industry across the country. That’s a fact that continues to be demonstrated through in-depth trainings and procedures, the sole purpose of which is to protect the people whose work fuels the world. Nobel’s latest piece is one in a long line of biased imitations of investigative journalism that push a Keep It In the Ground narrative, while ignoring science.”

News Report by Brittany Grego, WTOV News 9, January 23, 2020

BELMONT COUNTY, Ohio — Barnesville resident Jill Hunkler has been working with a writer from Rolling Stone Magazine.
Science Journalist Justin Nobel will be coming to Belmont County Friday, Jan. 24, to talk about a recent article he wrote on radioactivity and the oil and gas industry in the area.

“These are very serious issues, Justin has found in government documents and early industry reports that link oil and gas to radioactive exposures and also court cases that involve oil and gas industry cancer deaths have been linked to radioactivity on the job,” said Hunkler.

The event will take place this Friday from 5:30 to 7:30 PM inside Ohio University Eastern’s Shannon Hall Theatre.

Anyone is welcome to attend.

https://wtov9.com/news/local/science-journalist-to-talk-on-radioactivity-in-area-oil-gas-industry