Hydraulic Fracturing: Implications for Public Health · 2015. 10. 5. · Hydraulic Fracturing:...
Transcript of Hydraulic Fracturing: Implications for Public Health · 2015. 10. 5. · Hydraulic Fracturing:...
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Hydraulic Fracturing: Implications for Public Health
Physicians for Social Responsibility
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What would you think if…
• Patient presents with hydraulic fracturing fluid spilled on clothing.
• 24 hours after treating patient, you experience vomiting, difficulty breathing and jaundice.
• You have to be taken to the ER roughly 24 hours after exposure.
• ER doctors diagnose you with
liver failure from poisoning from
exposure to an unknown chemical.
This is a true story.
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What does Fracking look like?
- Heavy industrial activity.
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- Major drilling operations.
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- Big “footprint” on rural areas.
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Shale Gas In the United States
Shale formations are found in all regions of the country.
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Why are We Concerned?
• Exemption from key environmental protections.
• Toxic chemicals:- Known carcinogens. Hazardous Air Pollutants.
- Inadequate disclosure of chemicals used.
• Pollution of the air.
• Pollution of water.
• Climate change impacts are great.
• Non-disclosure and “gag rule” make it hard to know long-term health consequences.
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Hydraulic Fracturing Fluid: Dangerous Unknowns
• Hydraulic fracturing fluid: major source of air and water pollution.
• Contains dozens to hundreds of chemicals, including known carcinogens and other toxins.
• Precise contents unknown. Disclosure of chemicals used in hydraulic fracturing fluids not required.
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Hydraulic Fracturing: Largely exempted from regulation
• Clean Air Act (1970): oil and gas wells exempted from its regulatory standards.
• Clean Water Act (1972): oil and gas production exemptedfrom permit program for storm water runoff.
• Energy Policy Act of 2005: removes regulations of several oil and gas-related activities from the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA).
• Energy Policy Act of 2005: hydraulic fracturing exempted from oversight under the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA).
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Conventional vs. Unconventional Extraction
Unconventional hydrocarbons are located much deeper below the surface and require new technologies for extraction.
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The Shale Gas Extraction Process: Much more than just fracturing
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Drilling-Related Threats to Health
• Wells are drilled through water table and can cross aquifers.
• Well leakage can expose drinking water to toxic fracking fluids.
• Dangerous naturally occurring substances, like radioactive radon, can be extracted with wastewater.
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Diesel Air Pollution: Before, During and After the Drilling
• Particulate matter contributes to respiratory disease, heart attacks, cancer.
• Contributes to formation of ground-level ozone. Ozone can trigger asthma attacks, aggravate other chronic lung diseases and pre-existing heart diseases.
• Increases risks to people with asthma, the elderly, and the young.
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Other Toxic Air Pollution from Fracking• Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs).
– Benzene: known carcinogen. Linked to leukemia, other cancers, reproductive and developmental disorders.
– Toluene: long-term exposure may affect nervous system,
cause birth defects.
– Methane, ethane and propane: high levels of exposure may cause collapse, convulsions, coma, death.
• VOCs contribute to ozone, which can damage lungs permanently.
• 2011 study: Peak ozone levels in rural WY higher than Los Angeles.
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Hydraulic Fracturing: Water Contamination
• Fracturing requires up to 5 million gallons of water per well.
• Mixed with dozens to hundreds of chemical substances, including known toxins and carcinogens.
• That water can’t be used for drinking, agriculture, etc.
• Traditional water treatment facilities cannot treat hydraulic fracturing wastewater.
• Local communities are left with the problem: how to safely dispose of toxic wastewater?
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What happens to Wastewater?
• Stored temporarily on-site. Evaporation pools sometimes used to force wastewater into the air. (Water toxics become air toxics.)
• Vast quantities of wastewater hauled away by truck.
• Some states allow wastewater injection into underground injection wells. Linked to earthquakes in Oklahoma, Ohio.
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Truck Traffic: Danger!
Thousands of truck trips per well. They generate:
• Diesel pollution (VOCs, particulate matter).
In addition:
• Accidents on rural roads.
• Problems for emergency fire,
rescue vehicles.
• Heavy wear and tear
of road surfaces.
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Noise Pollution
• Intense noise pollution. Multiple sources, 24-7, day and night.
• Loud! Drill engine is louder than a subway passing. Even 250 feet away, drill engine noise level is comparable to a vacuum cleaner.
• Constant noise can cause stress, harm health, diminish quality of life.
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Health Impacts from Noise Pollution
• Hearing loss (i.e. employees of hydraulic fracturing operations)
• Loss of sleep (i.e. residents near hydraulic fracturing sites)
• Increased Blood Pressure
• Decreased Focus
• Irritability
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Social, Psychological Effects
• Rapid population growth.
• “Boom town” social problems.
• Increased demand for public services.
• Massive increases in truck traffic; increased road accidents;
noise and air pollution.
• Stress. Residents cite stress of their changing surroundings as having major impact on health.
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Hydraulic Fracturing and Animal Health
• Farm animals, pets, wild animals have been affected.
• Effects include infertility, stillbirths, and premature death.
• 2013 study linked increased hydraulic fracturing in Pennsylvania to declining diary production.
• Kentucky: Hydraulic fracturing fluid spill in creek kills virtually all aquatic wildlife.
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Methane and Climate Change
• Methane leaks throughout natural gas operations.
• Methane: up to 86 times more potent than CO2 over 20 years.
• Makes it hard to keep world temperatures livable (below global increase of 2 degrees Celsius).
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Methane Pipeline Leaks: Washington, DC
Source: Dr. Anthony Ingraffea
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Climate Change Affects Your Health
• Increased risk of heat exhaustion and heat stroke.
• Waterborne diseases, mold, sewage overflows.
• Insect-borne diseases expand into new areas.
• Reduced lung function, permanently damaged lung tissue, other respiratory ailments.
• Food shortages, famine, conflict.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/29388462@N06/5159399554
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Going In The Wrong Direction
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PSR Says: ‘No!’ to Unsafe Fracking
• Hydraulic fracturing poses serious threats to health, environment.
• PSR supports moratorium on hydraulic fracturing unless/until regulations assure it will be conducted without harming health or the environment.
• Oil and gas companies must disclose what chemicals they use in fracking fluid, and assume all costs of safe operations.
• We need safe, clean,
renewable energy!