health impacts of oil and natural gas (and what we can do about it)
TRANSCRIPT
It's
And what we can do about it
Health Impacts of Oil and Natural Gas
WHICH IS WORSE?
GLOBAL IMPACT300,000 deaths/ year
3.7 million deaths/year
200,000 deaths/ year in US
6 cities with the worst air in the US
Fresno-Madera
Los Angeles-Long Beach
Visalia-Porterville-Hanford
Bakersfield
Modesto
Sacramento-Roseville
American Lung Association, State of the Air 2014
8 HOUR OZONE LEVELS
Red dots = Prior non attainment > 75 ppbBrown dots = New non attainment > 70 ppb
Vulnerability
Exposure
Ozone
Relative O3 exposure and pediatric hospitalization for asthma
Fine Particulates pm2.5
Kunzli, 2005
Carotid thickening and fine particulate exposure in LA
05/01/23
Visceral fat is an endocrine organ
The Lancet 2011 378, DOI: (10.1016/S0140-6736(1)
Relative risk (RR) of type 2 diabetes by waist circumference (WC) and waist-to-hip ratio (WHR) relative to baseline BMI (in kg/m2). n = 27 270.
Youfa Wang et al. Am J Clin Nutr 2005;81:555-563
©2005 by American Society for Nutrition
05/01/23
Epigenetic effects
Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons
Risk of obesity at 5yrs 7 yrs
Fresno, CA FACES Study
PAH exposure
Methylated FoxP3 gene
Decreased T cell regulation
Increased asthma risk and severity
Neurodevelopmental ToxicityDoubles RR of Autism and Special Ed
Refineries High emissions near large populations
Bay Area refinery air pollution
Transport
Oil by Rail Accidents
2013- 2015
OIL AND GAS EXTRACTION
What goes down....CA Fracking Study
300 chemicals
30% unidentified
30% of the identified: toxicity unknown
Of the known: “petroleum distillates”benzene, ethylbenzene, napthalene,
formaldehydeConventional drilling also uses chemicals
What else comes upNot just fracking
Methane (CH4)
Other Hydrocarbons (Ethane (C2H6) Propane (C3H8) Butane (C4H10)
Nitrogen (N2)
Hydrogen sulfide H2S
VOCs: Benzene, Toluene, Ethylene, Xylene
Produced Water
NORM: Radium 226 & 228, Lead 210, Radon 222
Heavy Metals: Arsenic (Ar) Lead (Pb)
What could possibly go wrong?
lnflammatory Agents
Carcinogens
Teratogens
Neurotoxins
Endocrine Disruptors
How it gets out
FORMALDEHYDE
Macey, 2014
HYDROGEN SULFIDE BENZENE
(Macey, 2014)
OZONE
Helmig, 2j014
OZONE LEVELS WELLS
Climate Implications
SHORT LIVED – HIGH WARMING O & G Emissions
METHANE
NITROUS OXIDE
BLACK CARBON
CARBON DIOXIDE**for comparison
Life 20 yr GWP12 years 84
114 years 289
days-weeks 3,200
200-10,000 1years
BOTTOM UP METHOD: METHANE
TOP DOWN METHOD: METHANE
ENV REG 101
EPA Clean Air and Water Acts
1) Air and water standards for criteria pollutants
2) Technology requirements for major sources
NEPAEnvironmental impact review in federal permitting
Oil and Gas Loopholes
Piecemeal permits
Categorical exclusion from NEPA
Oil and Gas Loopholes
Piecemeal permitting
Categorical exclusion from NEPA
EPA's Methane and VOC proposed rules for new sources
Equipment with lower emissions
Collect and use instead of venting and flaring
Inspections for leaks
Defines aggregation as within quarter mile
PROBLEMS Leaves out major sources–Existing–Piecemeal loophole– Liquid unloading
Inspections q 6-12 months, allows skips
No measurements beyond plant
Potential Methane Reductions from O & GProjected Reduction from EPA Rules = 5%
OUR COMMENT LETTER MAIN POINTS
Cover all significant sources– Existing– Connected– Liquid unloading
Minimum of quarterly inspections
Top down and fenceline measurements
Who should you ask to sign?
StudentsNursesDoctors
Public HealthMental Health
Respiratory TherapistsOther health care workers
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