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.

Shale Gas ConventionalUnconventional

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