Issues of the Environment: Global Helium Shortage

89.1 WEMU | By David Fair - Retired

Published November 13, 2013 at 10:34 AM EST

In this week's installment of Issues of the Environment, WEMU's David Fair looks into the global helium shortage.

To help us better understand helium gas, it's uses and the potential ramifications of running out of this non-renewable resource, David spoke with Eastern Michigan University Chemistry Professor Dr. Gregg Wilmes.

Overview

Helium gas is a natural and non-renewable resource that cannot be manufactured, and scientists warn that helium reserves could run out in a couple decades at the current rate of depletion.
Old legislation which discouraged helium recycling left the United States facing a critical shutdown of the helium reserve in 2013 that could have stymied the medical, defense, aeronautical, and electronics manufacturing industries.

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David Fair - Retired

Nearly three-quarters of David Fair’s 20+ years in radio has been at WEMU. Since 1994, he has been on the air at 5am each weekday on 89.1 FM as the local host of NPR’s Morning Edition. Over the years, Fair has had the opportunity to interview nationally and internationally known politicians, activists and celebrities. But he feels the most important features and interviews have been with those who live and work here at home. He believes his professional passions and desires fit perfectly into WEMU’s commitment to serving a local audience.

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