hydrofracking & public health outline basic description of this industrial process key issues of...
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Hydrofracking & Public Health
Outline
• Basic Description of this Industrial process• Key Issues of Environmental & Public Health
Concern•Involvement of Public Health Professionals is
essential1) Primary Prevention2) Action
Public Health & Prevention strongly connected toPrecautionary Principle.
Learning ObjectivesUnderstand why Fracking poses unique public
health challenges
Separate FACT from opinions
Be able to identify several vulnerable populations & exposure scenarios
Know how to access additional information on this topic
Start thinking about the measures to protect the public from harm
History of Environmental Connection to Health
Public Health beginnings– Great Sanitary Movement of the 19th
Century:
Recognition that environmental conditions played a significant role in health
a) Proper handling of animal & human waste b) Management & disposal of garbagec) Separation of industrial uses from where people live
d) Housing & zoning standards
Prevention of disease
Historic Roots of Public Health
Populations not individuals
Addressed Environmental Conditions
Focused on Primary Prevention
Success ! – the biggest improvements in public health were achieved
Environmental ProtectionSplit from
Health Agencies in the 20th Century
Brand New Environmental Laws– 70sRegulations became more complex Now--Limited joint efforts of AgenciesUnfortunately, Public Health focus
has been weakened or lost--- not unrelated to scarce $$$ for public health.
Process DescriptionUses High volumes & High pressures & lots of
toxic fracking chemicals to open fractures & extract gas
Up to 5 million gallons of water for each frack, Multi-stage drilling & fracking process.
Intensive industrial process– costs 3X traditional drilling. Must be repeated as gas production declines.
Lots of equipment, trucks, tanks, pits, chemicals, waste & wastewater.
Methods are crude & aggressive– not well-controlled
Often close to homes, schools,etc.
Hydrofracking orHydraulic fracturing
Definitions differ:
Public– Hydrofracking is the entire complex industrial process from land clearing thru drilling, fracturing, gas recovery and eventual remediation of the site.
Industry –Applies to just one phase of the process, that uses large amounts of fluid and high pressure to cause fractures in rock formations releasing gases.
Unique aspects of shale gas recovery vs. Conventional Technology– new, far more intensive &
safeguards not yet developed Industry obtained exemptions from federal
environmental laws States are playing catch-up with few resourcesSite Geology- not entirely known. Drill site can
impact an area up to 2 mile radius. Potential for Permanent damage to drinking
water aquifersLack of solution to treat large volumes of
wastewater.Public health impacts associated with toxins in
water and air
Most Important Technology Issues
Isolation of the Borehole from Drinking Water This is essential to prevent permanent harm to aquifer.
Industry admits that failure of steel and cement casing is most common problem ( not fracking process)
Cement is a well known problem in oil and gas industry– at heart of BP Gulf Disaster.
Many of the toxic chemicals used are corrosive– casing longevity just 5 years
Earthquakes could damage casing.
Site GeologyRadius for horizontal drilling can be 2 miles
(area of 12.5 sq. miles)
Increased potential for vertical cracks, fissures in rock layers– pathway for toxins to travel to drinking water.
Thousands of abandoned, unplugged wells exist in NY.
Many turned over to EPA for plugging because NY did not have adequate funds.
Toxins in Fracking Fluids
Congressional report 2011 (Waxman) found: 14 leading companies used 780 million gallons of
hydraulic fracturing products containing 750 chemicals (not including water between 2005-2009).
29 chemicals were in 650 products & included 1) carcinogens, 2) chemicals regulated under the Safe Drinking water Act for health risks or 3) those listed as hazardous air pollutants under the Clean Air Act.
Many products purchased off the shelf contained trade secret or proprietary chemicals. 93.6 million gallons contained at least one trade secret component.
Disclosure a Problem for Public health– TEDX study
Only 14% of products provided data on 95-100% of ingredients.
43% of the products provided info on less than 1% of ingredients.
Of 632 chemicals-- just 56% had CAS numbers.
Study following serious blowout prior to fracking found toxic fluids used in drilling.
TEDX cont’dImmediate exposure effects - 75% of
chemicalsInclude respiratory, gastrointestinal, liver and nervous system.
Longer term Health effects: Nervous system-52% of chemicalKidney-40%Cardiovascular & Blood-46%Cancer- 25%Endocrine, Reproduction & Dev– 37%
No Good Solution for Wastewater
Wastewater includes: 1) chemical additives 2) Salts & other toxins found in shale formations– heavy metals and radionuclides- arsenic, barium, radium
NY seems reliant on Publicly owned treatment works or Sewage treatment plants, but they are not designed to remove or treat toxic chemicals.
Effluent from these plants can impact drinking water intakes downstream, and fish.
Other options: Recycling at site, Deep Well Injection & Road spreading --can impact surface water & wildlife
Findings at PA Brine Facility 2011 Univ. of Pittsburgh School of PHEffluent:Barium–14 times EPA MCLStrontium- 745 times EPA recommended levelBromide- 10,688 times the 100 ppb level of
concern.Benzene- 2 times the EPA MCL2-butoxyethanol- 9 times ATSDR acute
exposure level for children
Extensive PH recommendations made.
Air Emissions – associated with Acute & Chronic Effects
Methane – ( no odor) explosive hazard, greenhouse gas
Hydrogen SulfideVolatile organic compounds- equipment leaks,
evaporation, inadequate flaring Nitrogen oxides & Particulates from engines &
Trucks Silica – primarily worker exposures, NIOSH studyOzone – VOCs & NOxHazardous air pollutants & other air toxinsRadon
Air MonitoringRural Wyoming – higher Ozone levels than
LA in winter.
Barnett Shale area, TX- more smog-forming emissions than vehicles in Dallas-Ft. Worth metro area.
Citizen Monitoring- revealing high toxic emissions.
H2S—185 times level set by EPA
Benzene- 50- 800 times EPA cancer risk level
Acrylonitrile- 790-3000 times EPA cancer risk level
PUBLIC HEALTHAcute Hazards Explosions & Fire
Well Blow-outs Chemical spills
High Level Air Emissions Sudden drinking water contamination
Chronic Hazards- Intermediate & Long-TermLower level air pollution
Soil & Water contamination
Food contamination
Vulnerable Populations -- WorkersCompany WorkersSubcontractor Workers– often temporaryTransporters of solid & liquid wastesEmergency Responders- ambulance,
police, fireEmergency room personnelAgency inspectors– Environmental &
Health– state,county & local levelEmployees at Sewage Treatment Plants,
Landfills
Oil & gas extraction industryFatality rate– 27.5 per 100,000 (2003-2009)Total – 716 deaths. Seven times higher than for all
US workers. Highest exposures– Workers on site Hazard communication – essential for all Hi Silica levels found by NIOSH Continuous Air monitoring Leak inspections Limit time & exposure, esp. to neurotoxins Respiratory protection geared to hazard
Showers for decontamination Temporary workers are particularly vulnerable.
Other Vulnerable Populations
Children & Pregnant womenAdults with pre-existing
conditions & ElderlyAnimals- pets & farm animals Those in Facilities near gas
drilling operations – schools, Health care facilities
Animals
Bamberger & OswaldDrinking water & air exposuresAnimal Deaths – 17 cows within 1 hr.Still births & birth defectsSituations – like case control studies –
documented substantial differences between exposed & unexposed
One farmer had 190 active gas wells within 5 miles– 2 were on his property
Food safety concern raised & PH recommendations
Human Health Consistent symptoms – irritant
effects- eyes, nose, throat, cough Headaches, dizziness, balance
problems, other nervous system
Severe nose bleeds, Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea
Confirmations– Severe Health Effects Coma, organ failure, Cardiac or
respiratory, permanent neurological ER & hospital recordsLab tests for toxins in blood or water
supply – Frequent– arsenic & barium
Barriers to diagnosis:Lack of full disclosure of chemicalsTesting for poisons often does not
include organic chemicals.
Public Health Action Needed to Prevent Harm
First Line of Defense was dismantled with exemptions from Environmental Laws
2nd - Override of local zoning ordinances
NY State DEC cannot fill the gaps after over a decade of budget cuts & reduced workforce
Industry will not volunteer to be a good neighbor– Requirements are necessary
Health Professionals Needed !
Education– workers, all vulnerable populations
Better Monitoring
Required Reporting
Full disclosure of chemical ingredients- Secrets prohibited
Targeted Surveillance
Investigations & Research