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ScienceDaily (Mar. 19, 2012) — In a new study,researchers from the Colorado School of Public Healthhave shown that air pollution caused by hydraulicfracturing or fracking may contribute to acute and chronichealth problems for those living near natural gas drillingsites.

"Our data show that it is importantto include air pollution in the nationaldialogue on natural gas developmentthat has focused largely on waterexposures to hydraulic fracturing,"said Lisa McKenzie, Ph.D., MPH,lead author of the study andresearch associate at the ColoradoSchool of Public Health.

The study will be published in anupcoming edition of Science of theTotal Environment.

The report, based on three years ofmonitoring, found a number ofpotentially toxic petroleumhydrocarbons in the air near thewells including benzene,ethylbenzene, toluene and xylene.Benzene has been identified by theEnvironmental Protection Agency asa known carcinogen. Otherchemicals included heptane, octaneand diethylbenzene but informationon their toxicity is limited.

"Our results show that thenon-cancer health impacts from airemissions due to natural gasdevelopment is greater for residentsliving closer to wells," the reportsaid. "The greatest health impactcorresponds to the relatively

short-term, but high emission, well completion period."

That's due to exposure to trimethylbenzenes, aliaphatichydrocarbons, and xylenes, all of which have neurologicaland/or respiratory effects, the study said. Those effects couldinclude eye irritation, headaches, sore throat and difficultybreathing.

"We also calculated higher cancer risks for residents livingnearer to the wells as compared to those residing further[away]," the report said. "Benzene is the major contributor tolifetime excess cancer risk from both scenarios."

The report, which looked at those living about a half-mile fromthe wells, comes in response to the rapid expansion of naturalgas development in rural Garfield County, in westernColorado.

Typically, wells are developed in stages that include drillingfollowed by hydraulic fracturing, the high powered injection ofwater and chemicals into the drilled area to release the gas.After that, there is flowback or the return of fracking andgeologic fluids, hydrocarbons and natural gas to the surface.The gas is then collected and sold.

Garfield County asked the Colorado School of Public Health toassess the potential health impacts of these wells on thecommunity of Battlement Mesa with a population of about5,000.

McKenzie analyzed ambient air sample data collected frommonitoring stations by the Garfield County Department ofPublic Health and Olsson Associates Inc. She used standard

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Air Emissions Near Fracking Sites May Pose Health Risk, StudyShows; Sites Contain Hydrocarbons Including Benzene

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EPA methodology to estimate non-cancer health impacts andexcess lifetime cancer risks for hydrocarbon exposure.

McKenzie noted that EPA standards are designed to be publichealth proactive and may overestimate risks.

"However, there wasn't data available on all the chemicalsemitted during the well development process," she said. "Ifthere had been, then it is entirely possible the risks wouldhave been underestimated."

The report concludes that health risks are greater for peopleliving closest to wells and urges a reduction in those airemissions.

McKenzie said future studies are warranted and should includecollection of area, residential and personal exposure datawhere wells are operating. Additional studies, she said, shouldalso examine the toxicity of other hydrocarbons associatedwith natural gas development.

The study is entitled "Human Health Risk Assessment of AirEmissions from Development of Unconventional Natural GasResources." It was accepted for publication on 2/11/2012 byElsevier Science Ireland Ltd.

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The above story is reprinted from materials provided byUniversity of Colorado Denver.

Note: Materials may be edited for content and length. Forfurther information, please contact the source cited above.

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University of Colorado Denver (2012, March19). Air emissions near fracking sites may posehealth risk, study shows; sites containhydrocarbons including benzene. ScienceDaily.Retrieved August 14, 2012, fromhttp://www.sciencedaily.com /releases/2012/03/120319095008.htm

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