Helium shortage weighs on users big and small

Get news, sports and politics alerts

Click here to manage your alerts

Commodities » From party balloons to machinery, government’s hold on prices has an impact.

< Previous Page

dawn@sltrib.com

Twitter: @DawnHouseTrib

Photos

View photo gallery (15 photos)

At a glance

—

A look at helium

Uses » MRI magnet cooling, medical lasers , aerospace arc welding, computer chip manufacturing

Produced » From natural gas deposits mostly in Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas; Utah production has been halted

Properties » An inert, nonflammable, nontoxic gas; coldest liquid known, doesn’t become radioactive

Availability » Supplies are tight due to government controls and congressional inaction on potential remedies; older helium plants are not producing at full capacity, and new ones have been delayed.

	Join the Discussion
	Post a Comment

Weekend DUI checkpoint planned in Lehi
Published May 22, 2013 07:15:03AM
Sugar House Streetcar vote continues to echo in City Hall
Published May 22, 2013 07:13:24AM
Microsoft: New Xbox One more than a game console
Published May 22, 2013 07:10:40AM
Now, it’s Davis County’s turn for an H&M store
Published May 22, 2013 07:09:56AM

Top Reader Comments • Read All Comments • Post a Comment

Click here to read all comments Click here to post a comment

About Reader Comments

Reader comments on sltrib.com are the opinions of the writer, not The Salt Lake Tribune. We will delete comments containing obscenities, personal attacks and inappropriate or offensive remarks. Flagrant or repeat violators will be banned. If you see an objectionable comment, please alert us by clicking the arrow on the upper right side of the comment and selecting "Flag comment as inappropriate". If you've recently registered with Disqus or aren't seeing your comments immediately, you may need to verify your email address. To do so, visit disqus.com/account.
See more about comments here.

Popular Stories