First … to think I use to inhale this stuff to talk like a Munchkin from the Wizard of Oz. I had no idea where helium gas came from and have never given floating balloons a second thought. But this weekend, I took notice that most Open House signs were missing the festive balloons we’ve all come to expect.
Helium is the 2nd lightest of all the elements,
only beaten by hydrogen. It is abundant
in our universe in which it makes up nearly a quarter of its mass. Helium is produced by the atomic decay of
heavier matter in stars. We have helium
in our atmosphere too but it escapes into space faster than it is produced in
the earth.
Our helium comes from the drilling for Natural Gas. Natural gas pockets contain up to 7% helium
and is extracted as the gas is refined.
Helium occurs in natural gas because of atomic decay of radioactive
elements in the earth’s crust (as I said, we all have inhaled this stuff in the
past to talk funny).
So, why is there a helium shortage? The US government stockpiled helium starting
back when blimps seemed to be the future.
Helium is stored in underground salt domes beneath the Great Plains
region. In 1996, congress decided sell
off the reserve at a low price to offset a 1.4 billion dollar debt of the
reserve. A 2000 government study said
there will be a helium surplus for the foreseeable future. The gas storage facility will now be empty by
2015. Prices are still going up.
Okay, so graduation parties will be a little less
festive. Open Houses will be flying
fewer balloons because offices won’t be investing in more expensive tanks. Car dealerships will be going away from
balloons and on to streamers. Doesn’t
seem so bad ….
Wait – helium also cools MRI’s, and is used extensively in
aeronautics and electronics. Welding,
mostly of aluminum, alone makes up about 20% of the annual usage. Shipbuilding will be particularly hit hard as
they need to weld Marine Aluminum Alloy – the standard material today. Other gases can be used in manufacturing but
it will be a major overhaul of materials and procedures. The costs will be passed along to the
consumer either way – more expensive helium or a total overhaul to start using
other gases.
So sacrificing balloons at Open Houses doesn’t seem like
that big a deal. Just stop breathing the
stuff – it’s made from atomic decay and that can’t be good for you.
*about.com was a source for the information above.
*********
Sandy
LeRette – REALTOR® ABR – Better Homes & Garden Real Estate / The Masiello
Group – 436 Amherst Street, Nashua, NH
03063 cell: (603) 661-7301 email:
slerette@masiello.com
Bob
LeRette – Div. Sales Manager/ Real Estate – Boston.com & The Boston
Globe, 617-929-2104 email: rlerette@boston.com & REALTOR® - Better Homes & Garden
Real Estate / The Masiello Group – 436 Amherst Street, Nashua, NH 03063
