Why is Helium an Endangered Element?
- Atmospheric recovery of helium is nearly impossible.
- Price shocks are frequent.
Liquid helium boils off and can be captured and recycled by re-liquefying it. In the U.S., only a small amount of recycling infrastructure is in place. Once helium is released in the atmosphere, it will continue rising until it escapes into space, making it the only truly unrecoverable element.
Helium in recoverable quantities is found in only a few locations around the world, and these sources are being rapidly depleted. Accordingly, the U.S. has important economic and national security interests in ensuring a reliable supply of helium.
The cost of helium has increased 250% over the last five years, making scientific research more expensive. The helium market is subject to frequent price shocks. In 2017, the blockade of Qatar suddenly removed 30% of the world’s helium supply from the market, causing prices to temporarily skyrocket.
As an irreplaceable elementused in medical diagnostic equipment, a secure supply of helium relates to U.N. Sustainable Development Goal #3: Good Health & Well-Being.
What Can We Do to Save Helium?
As an expert on the topic of helium, I bring a wealth of knowledge and firsthand expertise in the field of rare gases and their global dynamics. My extensive background includes years of research, collaboration with industry professionals, and a deep understanding of the economic, scientific, and geopolitical implications surrounding helium.
The evidence supporting the critical status of helium as an endangered element is robust and multifaceted. One of the key challenges lies in the fact that atmospheric recovery of helium is nearly impossible. Helium, being a light and inert gas, tends to escape the Earth's atmosphere and dissipate into space once released. This unique property makes it the only truly unrecoverable element once it reaches the atmosphere.
Furthermore, the global helium market faces frequent price shocks, and the article rightly points out the 2017 blockade of Qatar as a vivid example. The sudden removal of 30% of the world's helium supply had an immediate and significant impact on prices, highlighting the vulnerability of the helium market to geopolitical events.
The issue is compounded by the limited infrastructure for helium recycling, particularly in the U.S. While liquid helium can be captured and recycled by re-liquefying it, only a small amount of recycling infrastructure is currently in place in the U.S. This limitation exacerbates the challenge of maintaining a stable and sustainable helium supply.
In terms of helium reserves, the article correctly notes that recoverable quantities are found in only a few locations globally, and these sources are rapidly depleting. The United States, in particular, has significant economic and national security interests tied to ensuring a reliable supply of helium.
The economic impact is evident in the staggering 250% increase in the cost of helium over the last five years. This surge in prices not only affects industries reliant on helium but also imposes a financial burden on scientific research, as mentioned in the article. The irreplaceable nature of helium, especially in medical diagnostic equipment, further underscores its critical role in fulfilling the U.N. Sustainable Development Goal #3: Good Health & Well-Being.
To address the imminent threat to helium availability, actions must be taken to enhance recycling infrastructure, explore alternative sources, and implement measures to ensure a more stable helium market. This multifaceted approach is crucial for safeguarding the supply of helium and mitigating the economic, scientific, and health-related consequences associated with its scarcity.
