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Should radiologists worry as U.S. helium reserves run dry?

by Brendon Nafziger, DOTmed News Associate Editor | July 21, 2011

Off the radar

Although helium is used to run high-speed particle accelerators and in industrial leak testing, about a quarter of the country's helium supplies go toward health care, both for keeping MRI magnets cold and generating radioactive isotopes for nuclear medicine, Shah said.

Despite its importance in radiology, Shah said he was surprised to learn most of his colleagues aren't especially aware of the problem.

"I work in an academic setting and my colleagues are up to date on all the latest developments in radiology. They can tell you about some of the most obscure diagnoses and newest procedures," he said. "But [helium's] completely off the radar of most radiologists."

Yet, once world gas reserves run out, the next option will be processing it out of the air -- which, at least with current technology, would be hugely inefficient and costly, requiring the distillation of thousands of gallons of air to squeeze out only tiny usable amounts of helium. Of course, by then, the pressure to conserve the gas could result in widespread, and more efficient, methods of recycling. And one day -- although this is now firmly in the realm of science-fiction -- helium could be extracted from the moon.

But Shah said, at least for the near future, he's not optimistic. "We can't even tackle global warming," he said.


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Maria K Todd MHA PhD

the best article I've read on DotMed yet

July 21, 2011 10:14

Thank you Brandon for bringing us this obscure but important piece of information. No more helium balloons at our family or corporate events.

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Gregory B. Holman

Recapturing Helium

July 21, 2011 10:14

When older superconductor systems are scrapped, they are usually purged by hitting the quench button. All of the helium goes, literally, "up the chimney". I have often wondered if there is a way to recapture this valuable gas, similar to the way that freon is recaptured from refrigeration units.

Gregory B. Holman, R.T.
DINY, Inc.

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Dave Adams

Re: Recapturing helium

July 21, 2011 10:14

I have heard China has been doing this for over 10 years. Only here in the USA it seems we waste energy. If you saw the remake of "The Karate Kid" with Jackie Chan, you can even see in that movie, they shut off the hot water when not using it. How many people do you know here in the USA that do that? Leaving the water running while you brush your teeth is another. If you have been to Asia, you would have seen the note they leave for you in the hotels, asking you not to waste the water like that. I guess what I am saying is- don't even get me started on this subject.
- Dave

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