the epigenome and environmental hazards: what the natural gas development (ngd) industry, is...

8/10/2019 The Epigenome and Environmental Hazards: What The Natural Gas Development (NGD) Industry, is Ignoring!

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The Epigenome and Environmental Hazards:

What the Natural Gas Development (NGD) Industry, is ignoring!

University of Colorado, Boulder

Authors: George Hernandez, Charles Tyler and SJ Lonberg

Current research in the environmental sciences has firmly established humankind possesses, a

far more intimate relationship with its environment, than previously considered. Present,

industrial manufacturing activities, from natural gas development to genetically engineered

food are changing the course of human evolution. These industrial producers are either

unaware or unwilling to acknowledge the pervasive effects their activities are having on every

community in American.

Governmental agencies responsible for the protection of human health are currently hampered

by a biased scientific view concerning the sensitivity of the human mind and body. Our federal

regulatory agencies are using out dated toxicological assays, environmental policies arepolitically engineered to protect industrial interest, rather than focusing on public health

concerns.

However, many non-scientist are unfamiliar with understanding just what is meant by the term

toxicology. So what is toxicology? It is the study of chemicals and their negative effects on living

things. Toxic chemicals are considered harmful depending on two basic criteria; how much is

necessary to cause harm and how easily it can enter the body. For a chemical to cause harm it

must in some way enter the body. Chemical toxicants are able to enter the human body

through basic four pathways, called the Routes of Exposure:1

1.

Inhalation: contaminates, brought into the body through, the process of respiration

from ambientIndoor and outdoor environments.

2. Ingestion: toxic substances acquired from what one eats or drinks.

3. Absorption: chemical toxicants absorbed through the skin.

4. Injection: toxicants which were, in some way injected into the body.2

However, there may indeed, be a fifth pathway of human exposure capable of causing alterations in the

human epigenome. An effect we believe that has not been fully explored and essentially ignored by

research toxicologist. But, as of late, research findings have emerge showing, how a surplus of electrons

accumulating in the human body can produce negative effects associated with a persons homeostasis.

Such an overload of electrons in the human body, is regarded as a direct consequence ofsocietys

modern lifestyle. Studies currently have confirmed, that physiological dysfunction and somatic stress

can be caused by the bodys inability to discharge excess electrons.

1Toxicology, PowerPoint Presentation, Operating Engineers National Hazmat Program, publication was made

possible by grant numbers 5 U45 ES06182-13 AND 5 U45 ES09763-13 from the National Institute of

Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS), NIH.2Ibid.


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These somatic effects have also proven harmful and are known to contribute toward normal

psychological behavior. On the cellular level, these effects have caused numerous problems in the

bodysenzymatic pH factors and the disruption in molecular reaction rates.3

Progress has been slow, for science to acknowledge the pervasive influence of our Natural Electrostatic

(NES) and Natural Electro-Magnetic field (NEMF) environment, as a medium capable of inducing

epigenetic gene and phenotypic cell expression. The emerging science of epigenetics has begun to shed

new light on how methylation and histone epigenetic-genetic processes, contributes toward a species

adaptability and capability to genetically survive in a changing environment. Fortunately, the emerging

science of epigenetics has shed new light on how genomic methylation and histone processes contribute

toward a species environmental adaptability and genetic survival.

NES and NEMF processes, provides a necessary biological communication link, that operates in

tandem with physiological systems, as they process intrinsic environmental signals from

exogenous fields of the human body. This natural process is realized through the surface

potentials and intracellular ion gradients responsible for maintaining somatic homeostatic

processes of cellular functions. The ES and ambient electromagnetic fields, natural or unnatural

present in the environment, need not necessarily penetrate the human bodys DNA directly, as

if they were antennae, receiving environmental information.

The human organism is quite capable of responding to the conditions present within an

NES/NEMF environment. Our species epigenetically have evolved to respond to the ever

present ensemble of fields, as other life forms do. These NES/NEMF processes are akin to the

already known processes of the organic properties of a cell. All cellular organisms are able to

perceive, the point fields of molecules within an ion environment. Life received its initial jump

start, within an electrostatic milieu and experiments have demonstrated that amino acids; the

biological constituents of life, were created under laboratory conditions stimulating earths

early beginnings.

During more recent experimentation, in the 1980s, a number of laboratory test were

conducted using EMF fields, within the microwave RF range, had shown in plants and animal

test subjects, abnormal response levels far above their normal homeostatic conditions. Under

very high exposure levels of non-ionizing radiation, these laboratory test have revealed severe

bio-morphogenesis. Experimentally induced EMF laboratory protocols on animal subjects, are

considered among some research scientist as unreliable and are not representative of normal

working conditions in office buildings or residential communities. However, the position given

here concerning environmental ambient ES processes and the human bodyssurface potentials

and concomitant intrinsic signaling properties, have nothing to do with such unacceptably,induced laboratory results.

3Review Article: Earthing: Health Implications of Reconnecting the Human Body to the Earths Surface

Electrons. Gaetan Cheavlier, Stephen T Sinatra, James L Oschman, et al. Journal of Public Environmental and

Public Health, Volume 2012, Article ID 291541, 8 pages Dol:10.1155/2012/291541


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The existence of a biological species capability of maintaining life under extreme environmental

conditions, poses a very basic question concerning our earthly boundES influences. We feel

compelled to ask, are such processes still necessary? Itsquite evident, that ES influences

continue as essential processes that maintain and sustain life on earth. Humankind and all of

earths known life forms, including bacteria, fungi, plants and animal species, depend on it.

Environmental scientist and citizen researchers, are becoming increasingly knowledgeable

about the risk associated with industrial toxicants and the possible harmful impact they will

have on all living things inhabiting our planet. However, let us give some credit to the human

bodys natural defenses, againstthe environmental intrusion of toxic elements altering cellular

expression? Indeed, its truethe human organism is capable ofrepairing its genetic code by

way of natural genomic processes. Genetic mismatches occurring in DNA and RNA

transcription, are capable of resetting and installing the proper coding sequence.

Unfortunately, this does not always happen! Incongruities in genetic coding may shut down,

the synthesis of certain enzymes controlling protein production. RNA or mRNA transcription

provides, the biological machinery necessary for protein synthesizes and processes associated

with coding sequences for cellular repair, but key locations on the DNA strand of a specific code

location can be absent or silenced. So cancer cells, for example continue in their abnormal

growth cycles. Granted, this description of on-going tumor generation, is an over simplification,

however, carcinogenic cellular expression resulting from epigenetic miscoding responses, is a

vastly complex process.

Environmental toxicants are capable of mimicking crucial enzymatic processes, while critically

changing the epigenome, in all species inhabiting our oceans, fresh water systems and

terrestrial environs. Most importantly, how biological epigenetic effects, are capable of trans-

generational expression over long periods of human and animal existences. Essentially,epigenetic processes are the result of functional non-genomic responses to environmental

stimuli and cause genes to behave differently. Industrial societies, worldwide continued to use

toxic chemicals in the production of all manner of goods, because they are efficient, cheap and

reduce cost. Lowering cost in any manufacturing process means more profits or dividends for

investors.

Modern day production, has clearly altered the availability of sustainable resources, while

creating unfavorable transformations in our environment, through inappropriate land use, the

destruction of wildlife habitats and notability has shaken, the very existence and sustainability

of humankind.

Our electrostatic environment serves as one of natures many avenues of providing adaptive

information for an organisms survival. The emerging science of epigenetics has shown that

environmental toxicants are capable of producing changes in cell expression, phenotypically in

humans, plant life and animal epigenome, without transforming the species DNA sequence.


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The current biomarkers used by industrial chemist and environmental agencies, testing for

deleterious effects attributed to environmental toxicants are not proficient or scientifically

robust in determining their mutagenic effects relating to the transmutation of the phenotypic

attributes of the human epigenome.

However, not all epigenetic outcomes, are necessarily detrimental. An organisms epigeneticresponse is indeed, a natural way for a species to adapt and survive within a changing

environment. But, when epigenetic processes goes awry, it has the potential to promote an

abnormal physiology either immediately or at later stages of development, for example leading

to the onset of adult disease.6

Concomitant levels of stress, attributed to physical conditions and psychological emotional

states, within a community or neighborhood at risk, attributed to ambient toxicants and

hazardous chemical exposure in the workplace, could compromise an individuals mental health

and potentially conveyed as maladaptive social behavior. Abnormal social behavior, displayed

as aggressive and violent actions are presently not considered, as a consequence of epigenetic,

latent gene expression.

Therefore, substantial questions are beginning to emerge regarding environmental pollutants,

which could potentially induce, adverse epigenetic factors within human populations. Again, it

should be noted, the consequence of epigenetic adaptations are expressed as observable

physical attributes, but can also affect intellectual and cognitive performance. Attributes of

mental performance are measureable and representative of human learning ability, as well as,

the adverse conditions which could hamper their expression and potential for development.

Furthermore, another epigenetic health scenario, is beginning to emerge out of current medical

research, demonstrating that epigenetic response mechanisms, have the capacity to promoteand maintain systemic diseases within susceptible populations.

Pandoras Box has opened as a consequence of societysindustrial abuses! Does the corporate

industrial complex and its global-transnational influence on manufacturing and commerce,

have a moral and social responsibility to ameliorate, the adverse environmental conditions

which it has created?

Our industrial factories and the manufacturing processes associated with them, have

unfortunately created susceptible populations sensitive to hazardous chemicals, while

subsequently elevating the social and financial cost, associated with debilitating healthconditions and the medical attention they require. The growing health problems among

susceptible populations, is a global phenomenon and will have profound effects on the human

epigenome, in generations to come.

6Epigenetic memory of environmental organisms: A reflection of lifetime stressor exposures.Leda

Mirbahai, James K. Chipman, Mutation Research/Genetic Toxicology and Environmental Mutagenesis

October 2013.


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Is there any justification or reasonable questions, one might ask concerning the possible

existence of any population of people, who have historically exhibited persistent etiological

conditions? Is there statistical evidence or circumstantial support, which could otherwise

substantiate, the epigenetic persistence of disease? Do we know of any group of people

exhibiting any characteristic systemic health conditions as factors of risk implicit of toxicexposure and environmental chemical hazards?

We therefore submit the Prima Faciecase, that Black Americans, have historically been

subjected to adverse social pressures, health and environmental conditions which have

compromised their genetic potential. The Black American community have over decades

publically chastised US government agencies, concerning the issue of environmental racism.

Black activists claim, that black families are predominantly exposed to environmental health

risk, where white main stream communities are not! What factual statements have they made

regarding their concerns?

People of color make up the majority of those living in neighborhoods located within 1.8

miles of the nation's hazardous waste facilities.

Neighborhoods with facilities clustered close together have higher percentages of people ofcolor than those with non-clustered facilities.

As a whole, racial disparities for people of color exist in 9 out of 10 EPA regions.

Existing laws and land-use controls have not been adequately applied in order to reduce healthrisks for those living in or near toxic "hot spots."

Findings in UCC's 2007 report are consistent with an Associated Press study in Sept. 2005showing African Americans are 79 percent more likely than whites to live in neighborhoodswhere industrial pollution is suspected of causing the greatest health danger.

As in previous budgets, the Bush Administration FY08 budget recommended a 28.4 percent cutto the budget of the EPA's Office of Environmental Justice. ($4.58 million has beenrecommended, down from $6.34 million enacted in the FY06 budget and FY07 continuingresolution).7

However, that was roughly ten years ago, have we seen any improvement, since 2005 showing

that blacks are presently, less likelyto live near hazardous waste facilities, than their whitecounterpart? Wellapparently not! According to a recent study, titled Whosin Danger?-

Race, Poverty, and Chemical Disasters. Presents disturbing statistical evidence that 134

million Americans live in danger zones around 3,344 facilities in some common industries

that store or use highly hazardous chemicals. Millions more people work, play and shop

and worship in these areas. New research presented in this report finds that residents of

7Source: "Toxic Wastes and Race 1987-2007"


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chemical facility vulnerability zones are disproportionately Black (Afro American) and

have lower housing values, incomes, and education levels than the national average. The

disproportionate or unequal danger is sharply magnified in the fencelineareas nearest

the facilities.8

Key findings given in this report show the percentage of Black Americans, living in fenceline zones, is 75% greater than the U.S. as a whole. The poverty rate in the fence line zones

are 50%, higher than the U.S. as a whole 9is indeed, unwelcomed news for black

Americans and other minority populations, who continually are subjected to living near

facilities that use hazardous materials or store toxic waste.

Are there statistical studies available which could support the claim that Black Americans

health as a group, is disproportionally at risk? Are epigenetic processes working against them,

living near environmental hazardous facilities contributing to the persistence of medical

conditions and adverse birth outcomes among their race? Could there be a possible

relationship showing that epigenetic transcription factors have contributed to higher infant

mortality and low birth weight rates among Blacks in America? Could a case be made showingthat a race subjected to starvation, economically deprivation and segregation from main stream

society, have left their mark epigenetically?

It has become a factual reality, that low-income people of color, have been traditionally forced

to live near hazardous waste, toxic gas emissions, and poisonous industrial processes. Could

such environmental living conditions have contributed to the persistence of debilitating health

and medical illnesses as an epigenetic response to incorrect environmental signals? Could

epigenetic biological assays, become the new standard that could determine, the specificity of

toxicants responsible for phenotypic anomalies? Could they finally end the controversy that

maternal mothers residing near National Gas Development (NGD) operations, are responsiblefor low-birth-weight and adverse birth outcomes?

National and state health statistics, have clearly demonstrated, the persistence of Low-birth

weight and birth defects among susceptible populations living in neighborhoods and

communities, either residing under conditions of abject poverty or below poverty levels

attributed to their low social-economic status and race. It is not uncommon for the poorest of

families to live in close proximity to industrial site, oil fineries and manufacturing companies

using and storing toxic chemicals. Black Americans, have been historically forced to live in

neighborhoods and communities, where environmental conditions have been the worst over

many generations. Sadly this situation continues, in a nation considered as one of the

wealthiest countries in the world.

8Whos in Danger: Race, Poverty and Chemical Disaster, A demographic analysis of chemical disaster

vulnerability zones, published by the Environmental Justice and Health Alliance for Chemical Policy

Reform, May 2014.9Ibid.


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For example, Blacks in the United States have the highest infant mortality and low-birth-weight

(LBW) rates among any ethnic group, residing in American communities. Statistics studies show

that blacks compared with whites are more than double and substantially higher in comparison

with other ethnic minority groups.

In 1980, according to the National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS), Black Infant Mortalitywas at 22.2 % and LBW at 12.7 %. In the census year 2000, Black Infant Mortality was reported

as 14.0 %, a substantial decrease in black infant deaths from 1980 statistics.

However, during this same twenty year period, from 1980 to 2000, NCHS reported, low-birth-

weight LBW rates for blacks at 13.0 %, this showed a slight, but definite increase.

In 2010, the U.S Infant Mortally Rate for Blacks averaged over a 7 year period, from 2004 to

2010, was still at 13.0 %. In Colorado, the black population over the same averaged period of

seven years, was above the national average at 14.46 %. Current national and state health

statistical reports, show a slight, but continuing rise in Infant Mortality and LBW among Blacks

in Colorado. This is ironic, since many regard the state of Colorados image as pristine

environmentally and citizenry as ecologically aware. For the state of Colorado, this presents, a

rather negative public image of a continuing serious health problem, as it ranks 37thout of 50

states for LBW nationally.

Could epidemiological studies, recently conducted in rural Colorado, substantially prove that

exposure to environmental hazards and industrial processes, strongly implicate the NGD

industry and their drilling as causative epigenetics factors related to low birth weight and

negative birth outcomes?10,11The answer is not a certain one, such studies at best can only

substantiate, a possible strong inference, alleging that toxic chemical processes are responsible!

Even though the nature of epidemiological research can be scientifically rigorous and methods

of inductive logic as meticulous based on empirical findings; seem to fall victim to rival andpolitically antagonistic claims of alleged flaws in their approach and analysis. The political

machinery of industrial power brokers, who control the legislative process nationally, the

judicial system of state governments, have been able to squelch local municipalities and the

citizens they represent, their legal right, through the democratic process of voting prohibiting,

NGD in or near their communities.

Is there any evidence for this type of corporate bullying and political maneuvering through a

statesjudicial system to change voter outcomes? Citizens in Boulder County Colorado, voted to

ban NGD from their communities. In spite of the wishes of local citizens, to ban NGD activity

passed by vote, the Governor of Colorado, recommended to industry CEOs,they shouldcollectively bring legal action against local governments in banning NGD exploration and drilling

in or near their communities.

10Research | Childrens Health, Birth Outcomes and Maternal Residential Proximity to National Gas Development

in Rural Colorado, Lisa M. McKenzie, et alt, Volume 122 | Number 4 | April 2014: Environmental Health

Perspectives11"Human Health Risk Assessment of Air Emissions from Development of Unconventional Natural Gas Resources."

Accepted for publication on 2/11/2012 by Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd.


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The strategy to block locale referendum in banning NGD, was for the industry to claim, that

state law should ultimately prevail, not a communitys electorate to decide whatsbest for

themselves. It seems quite clear, that corporate America decides, what will happen legally at

the local level, if their industrial and profit making interest are placed in jeopardy. If this,

indeed is America and we honor and cherish the democratic process, the recent politico

circumvention of local referendum in Colorado, begs the questionwhos America is it?

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is responsible for authorizing, the use of specific

chemical assays in determining environmental toxicity. Could the present EPA authorized test

for toxicity conclude, that toxic chemicals used in non-conventional drilling practices, are

responsible for infant mortality, negative birth outcomes and the persistence of disease is

certainly doubtful? Indeed, a sound and irrefutable connection must be established, without

any reservation, about its biochemical analysis.

We have already shown, the EPA has a substantial backlog of conventional assay protocols,

before it even becomes capable of addressing epigenetic concerns.12However, are there any

existing scientific studies which have demonstrated adverse effects from benzene exposure

within any known environmental context of healthy subject indeed, there is! Cancer research

conducted by Valentina Bollati, Andrea Baraccareli, have established the first human study to

link altered DNA methylation, reproducing the aberrant epigenetic patterns found in malignant

cells, to low-level carcinogen exposure.13

Even though, there is an emerging body of scientific evidence for the greater need, to test for

epigenetic effects in combination with traditional genetic methods are not presently actively

pursued. Some may question whether, epigenetic based test and analytical laboratory tools are

cost prohibitive. We agree that developmental cost associated with establishing standardized

procedures and the implementation of new chemical assays are expense, time consuming andtheir concomitant lab procedures are intensive. Regardless of the cost or time involved, they

should be implemented. The motivation for profit, should not take precedence over the needs

of public health and safety. However, itsunlikely, the Natural Gas Development (NGD)

industry, would embrace the need or cost for new testing processes, let alone its broad of

directors approving such a change from present protocols. For the NGD industry to allow, the

epigenetic assessment of its chemical processes and products could possibly place, the entire

industry in jeopardy.

12The EPA and Epigenetics: Baby Steps or Going Nowhere? July 29, 2014 Epigenetic in the Media, Policy EPA,

pollution, trans-generational inheritance.13Changes in DNA Methylation Patterns in Subjects Exposed to Low-Dose Benzene Valentina Bollati, Andrea

Baccarelli, Lifang Hou, et al. Cancer Research 2007; 67:876-880


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Consequently, if any one test proved positive for epigenetic/genetic damage in humans, the

NGD industry would likely be subjected to numerous multimillion dollar civil law suits.

Particularly, in those regions of the United States, where research has already substantiated by

way of epidemiological studies, the negative birth outcomes attributed to the unconventional

drilling practices of NGD operations.

As environmentally concerned citizens, we must reassess our priorities in using fossil fuels, as

the main resource for energy production and in the manufacturing of its associated by

products. We must now turn our attention to proactive and meaningful solutions, if not

immediately, making a genuine shift toward sustainable industries. There must be effective

changes in our national energy policies and the development of innovative Green

technologies which could completely eliminate or profoundly reduce our exposure to toxicants

in the environment. These necessary and urgently needed changes must occur without the

interference of the oil production industry or the political machinery of special interest groups

which support them for financial gain.

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