Air Contaminants Associated with Potential Respiratory Effects from Unconventional Resource Development Activities

Abstract

Unconventional natural gas development uses horizontal drilling in conjunction with hydraulic fracturing to gain access to natural gas deposits which may be tightly held in shale deposits and unavailable to conventional vertical drilling operations. The intensive work required to extract this source of energy results in higher than usual numbers of vehicles involved, potential release of emissions from those vehicles in congested zones surrounding the drill site, and release of other contaminants from materials drawn back out of the borehole after fracturing of the shale. Typical contaminants would be diesel exhaust particulate and gases, volatile organic compounds and other hydrocarbons both from diesels and the drilling process, crystalline silica, used as part of the hydraulic fracturing process in kiloton quantities, and methane escaping from the borehole and piping. A rise in respiratory disease with proximity to the process has been reported in nearby communities and both silica and diesel exposures at the worksite are recognized respiratory hazards. Because of the relatively short time this process has been used to the extent it is currently being used, it is not possible to draw detailed conclusions about the respiratory hazards that may be posed. However, based on the traffic volume associated with each drill site and the number of drill sites in any locale, it is possible at least to compare the effects to that of large traffic volume highways which are known to produce some respiratory effects in surrounding areas.

Keywords

VOCs - hydraulic fracturing - ultrafines - diesel exhaust

• References

• 1 Short-Term, Southwestern Pennsylvania Marcellus Shale. Ambient air sampling report. Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection; 2010
• 2 Air, Noise, and Light Monitoring Results for Assessing Environmental Impacts of Horizontal Gas Well Drilling Operations. Prepared for the West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection, May 3, 2013. Available at: http://www.dep.wv.gov/oil-and-gas/Horizontal-Permits/legislativestudies/Documents/WVU%20Final%20Air%20Noise%20Light%20Report.pdf . Accessed December 17, 2014
• 3 Woskie SR, Kalil A, Bello D, Virji MA. Exposures to quartz, diesel, dust, and welding fumes during heavy and highway construction. AIHA J (Fairfax, Va) 2002; 63 (4) 447-457
• 4 Flanagan ME, Seixas N, Majar M, Camp J, Morgan M. Silica dust exposures during selected construction activities. AIHA J (Fairfax, Va) 2003; 64 (3) 319-328
• 5 Oliver LC, Miracle-McMahill H, Littman AB, Oakes JM, Gaita Jr RR. Respiratory symptoms and lung function in workers in heavy and highway construction: a cross-sectional study. Am J Ind Med 2001; 40 (1) 73-86
• 6 Kargbo DM, Wilhelm RG, Campbell DJ. Natural gas plays in the Marcellus Shale: challenges and potential opportunities. Environ Sci Technol 2010; 44 (15) 5679-5684
• 7 Zoback M, Kitasei S, Copithorne B. Addressing the environmental risks from shale gas development. Washington, DC: Worldwatch Institute; 2010
• 8 Rabinowitz PM, Slizovskiy IB, Lamers V , et al. Proximity to natural gas wells and reported health status: Results of a household survey in Washington County, Pennsylvania. Environ Health Perspect 2014; 123 (1) 21-26
• 9 Schwarze PE, Ovrevik J, Låg M , et al. Particulate matter properties and health effects: consistency of epidemiological and toxicological studies. Hum Exp Toxicol 2006; 25 (10) 559-579
• 10 Hitchins J, Morawska L, Wolff R, Gilbert D. Concentrations of submicrometre particles from vehicle emissions near a major road. Atmos Environ 2000; 34 (1) 51-59
• 11 Morawska L, Ristovski Z, Jayaratne E, Keogh DU, Ling X. Ambient nano and ultrafine particles from motor vehicle emissions: Characteristics, ambient processing and implications on human exposure. Atmos Environ 2008; 42 (35) 8113-8138
• 12 Andersen ZJ, Wahlin P, Raaschou-Nielsen O, Ketzel M, Scheike T, Loft S. Size distribution and total number concentration of ultrafine and accumulation mode particles and hospital admissions in children and the elderly in Copenhagen, Denmark. Occup Environ Med 2008; 65 (7) 458-466
• 13 Birch M, NIOSH manual of analytical methods (NMAM). In: O'Connor PF. , ed. 3rd supplement to NMAM, Cincinnati, OH: Department of Health and Human Services. Public Health Service, Center for Disease Control and Prevention, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, 2004. DHHS publication no. (NIOSH) 2003–154
• 14 Stewart PA, Vermeulen R, Coble JB , et al. The diesel exhaust in miners study: V. evaluation of the exposure assessment methods. Ann Occup Hyg 2012; 56 (4) 389-400
• 15 Weichenthal S, Dufresne A, Infante-Rivard C. Indoor ultrafine particles and childhood asthma: exploring a potential public health concern. Indoor Air 2007; 17 (2) 81-91
• 16 McCreanor J, Cullinan P, Nieuwenhuijsen MJ , et al. Respiratory effects of exposure to diesel traffic in persons with asthma. N Engl J Med 2007; 357 (23) 2348-2358
• 17 McAuley TR, Ferro A, Spengler JD, Hopke PK, Jacques PA. Spatial measurements of ultrafine particles using an engine exhaust particle Sizer™ within a local community downwind of a major international trade bridge in Buffalo, New York. Aerosol Sci Technol 2010; 44 (12) 1096-1104
• 18 von Klot S, Wölke G, Tuch T , et al. Increased asthma medication use in association with ambient fine and ultrafine particles. Eur Respir J 2002; 20 (3) 691-702
• 19 Li N, Sioutas C, Cho A , et al. Ultrafine particulate pollutants induce oxidative stress and mitochondrial damage. Environ Health Perspect 2003; 111 (4) 455-460
• 20 Xia T, Korge P, Weiss JN , et al. Quinones and aromatic chemical compounds in particulate matter induce mitochondrial dysfunction: implications for ultrafine particle toxicity. Environ Health Perspect 2004; 112 (14) 1347-1358
• 21 Sioutas C, Delfino RJ, Singh M. Exposure assessment for atmospheric ultrafine particles (UFPs) and implications in epidemiologic research. Environ Health Perspect 2005; 113 (8) 947-955
• 22 McCawley M, Martin S, Moyer E, Berakis M, Hornsby-Myers J, Kent M. Development of a filter assembly to match the deposition of ultrafine aerosol in the lung: A pilot study with beryllium. Ann Occup Hyg 2002; 46 (Suppl. 01) 215-218
• 23 McCawley M. Particle size-selective criteria for deposited submicrometer particles. In: Vincent J, , ed. Particle Size Selective Sampling for Particulate in Air Contaminants. Cincinnati, OH: American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists; 1999
• 24 Aalto P, Hämeri K, Paatero P , et al. Aerosol particle number concentration measurements in five European cities using TSI-3022 condensation particle counter over a three-year period during health effects of air pollution on susceptible subpopulations. J Air Waste Manag Assoc 2005; 55 (8) 1064-1076
• 25 Colinet J, Cecala AB, Chekan GJ, Organiscak J, Wolfe A. Best Practices for Dust Control in Metal/Nonmetal Mining. Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Office of Mine Safety and Health Research, 2012; DHHS (NIOSH) Publication no. 2010–132; Circular 9521
• 26 Esswein EJ, Breitenstein M, Snawder J, Kiefer M, Sieber WK. Occupational exposures to respirable crystalline silica during hydraulic fracturing. J Occup Environ Hyg 2013; 10 (7) 347-356
• 27 Heitbrink WA, Baron PA, Willeke K. An investigation of dust generation by free falling powders. Am Ind Hyg Assoc J 1992; 53 (10) 617-624
• 28 Chen XL, Wheeler CA, Donohue TJ, McLean R, Roberts AW. Evaluation of dust emissions from conveyor transfer chutes using experimental and CFD simulation. Int J Miner Process 2012; 110–111: 101-108
• 29 Volkwein JC, Page SJ, Thimons ED. Canopy-Air Curtain Dust Reductions on a Gathering-Arm Loader, Report of Investigation 8603. U.S. Bureau of Mines, Pittsburgh, PA; 1982
• 30 Bernstein JA, Alexis N, Bacchus H , et al. The health effects of non-industrial indoor air pollution. J Allergy Clin Immunol 2008; 121 (3) 585-591
• 31 Sarigiannis DA, Karakitsios SP, Gotti A, Liakos IL, Katsoyiannis A. Exposure to major volatile organic compounds and carbonyls in European indoor environments and associated health risk. Environ Int 2011; 37 (4) 743-765
• 32 Wolkoff P, Wilkins CK, Clausen PA, Nielsen GD. Organic compounds in office environments - sensory irritation, odor, measurements and the role of reactive chemistry. Indoor Air 2006; 16 (1) 7-19
• 33 Garshick E, Laden F, Hart JE , et al. Lung cancer and vehicle exhaust in trucking industry workers. Environ Health Perspect 2008; 116 (10) 1327-1332
• 34 Colborn T, Schultz K, Herrick L, Kwiatkowski C. An exploratory study of air quality near natural gas operations. Human and Ecological Risk Assessment: An International Journal. 2014; 20 (1) 86-105
• 35 Macey GP, Breech R, Chernaik M , et al. Air concentrations of volatile compounds near oil and gas production: a community-based exploratory study. Environ Health 2014; 13: 82