Fracking:
What are the risks to Ohio
Melanie Houston, MS
Ohio Environmental Council
November 2014
11/26/2014 1
Ohio Environmental Council
« Advocacy, non-profit
« Legislative initiatives
« Legal action
« Science and policy
« Network and partnerships
Utica shale drilling
Columbus Dispatch
Dec 3, 2012
Potential for serious impacts to...public health, environment, quality of life
State of fracking in
Ohio
In Ohio:
Over 1,500 horizontal
wells permitted.
Over 1,100 drilled
• Cornell University study
– “An uncontrolled health experiment on an enormous scale”
• Duke University study
– Found methane concentrations 17X higher in drinking water wells closer to natural gas wells
• Akron Beacon Journal
– 1 million pounds of chemicals used at a single well site
Risks to water quality
Air contamination• Colorado School of Public Health:
– “Our data show that it is important to include air pollution in the national dialogue on natural gas development that has focused largely on water exposures to hydraulic fracturing,” said Lisa McKenzie, Ph.D., MPH
– “We also calculated higher cancer risks for residents living nearer to the wells as compared to those residing further [away],” the report said. “Benzene is the major contributor to lifetime excess cancer risk from both scenarios.”
http://attheorefront.ucdenver.edu/?p=2546
Earthquakes
109 earthquakes in 2011, including 3.9 magnitude
Brine dump in storm drain leading to Mahoniing
River in Youngstown, Ohio (Feb 2012)
Brine dump
Morgan County spill
Morgan County
• 100 barrel spill of drilling mud
into an unnamed creek &
unknown amount of wet gas
released.
Monroe County –Chemical Fire & 5 mile Fish Kill
October 2014 – 3 Incidents in just 3 days
Guernsey County –
worker injury/
explosion
Jefferson county –
leaking well,
evacuation
Monroe County –
pipeline fire
Local impacts
SAFER GAS Act
To include provisions to require:
• Protection of public water sources & floodplains
• Increased air monitoring
• Increased public input (right to know & right to
appeal permit terms + conditions)
• More inspectors + better reporting + tracking of
incidents on ODNR website
• Waste fluid recycling + reuse
• Better regulation of waste materials
Increased buffer
zones
• Between wells &
water bodies
• Between wells &
homes
• Between wells &
ecologically
sensitive areas
*Image of Wayne National Forest
Funds for Emergency
Response
• Equipment & training
• Industry should foot bill (severance tax)
Spill containment rules
• Need legislature to require ODNR issue
emergency rules
Chemical disclosure
• Need full disclosure of trade secret
chemicals…
…To emergency
responders &
drinking water
utilities
OEC contacts:
Melanie Houston [email protected] (614) 487-5849
Nathan Johnson [email protected] (614) 487-5841
Ohio’s state lands
open to drilling
• Quail Hollow
State Park
• Wayne
National
Forest
*Image of Wayne National Forest
Relevant & timely
legislation
• SB 315 – Governor’s energy legislation
• Budget bill (HB 59) – radioactive waste
from fracking, definition of TENORM
• Upcoming – severance tax bill, HB
490/midterm budget review bill
A meeting with the Southwest Pennsylvania
Environmental Health Project
Melanie Houston
Raina Rippel
Jill Kriesky
Deborah Cowden
November 7, 2014
11/26/2014 23
Welcome
•How the meeting came about
•Goals for the meeting
•Meeting Agenda
•Housekeeping
11/26/2014 24
Ohio Environmental Council
« Legislative initiatives
« Legal action
« Science and policy
« Network and partnerships
Melanie Houston
Director of Water Policy
& Environmental Health
Today’s Speakers
Jill Kriesky
SWPA-EHP
Deb Cowden
Family Physician
Raina Rippel
SWPA-EHP
Introductions of attendees
•In person attendees
•Webinar participants –please introduce yourself through the chat box!
•Name, organization & interest in attending today
11/26/2014 27
State of fracking in
Ohio
In Ohio:
Over 1,500 horizontal
wells permitted.
Over 1,100 drilled
Potential for serious impacts to...public health, environment, quality of life
Earthquakes
109 earthquakes in 2011, including 3.9 magnitude
Brine dump in storm drain leading to Mahoniing
River in Youngstown, Ohio (Feb 2012)
Brine dump
Morgan County spill
Morgan County
• 100 barrel spill of drilling mud
into an unnamed creek &
unknown amount of wet gas
released.
Monroe County –Chemical Fire & 5 mile Fish Kill
October 2014 – 3 Incidents in just 3 days
Guernsey County –
worker injury/
explosion
Jefferson county –
leaking well,
evacuation
Monroe County –
pipeline fire
Local impacts
SAFER GAS Act
To include provisions to require:
• Protection of public water sources & floodplains
• Increased air monitoring
• Increased public input (right to know & right to
appeal permit terms + conditions)
• More inspectors + better reporting + tracking of
incidents on ODNR website
• Waste fluid recycling + reuse
• Better regulation of waste materials
Increased buffer
zones
• Between wells &
water bodies
• Between wells &
homes
• Between wells &
ecologically
sensitive areas
*Image of Wayne National Forest
Funds for Emergency
Response
• Equipment & training
• Industry should foot bill (severance tax)
Spill containment rules
• Need legislature to require ODNR issue
emergency rules
Chemical disclosure
• Need full disclosure of trade secret
chemicals…
…To emergency
responders &
drinking water
utilities
OEC contacts:
Melanie Houston [email protected] (614) 487-5849
Nathan Johnson [email protected] (614) 487-5841
Human Health
Impacts of Marcellus
Shale Gas Extraction
Ohio Environmental
Council,
Columbus, OH
Raina Rippel, DirectorSWPA Environmental Health ProjectNovember 7, 2014
www.environmentalhealthproject.org
SOUTHWEST PENNSYLVANIA ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH PROJECT
724.260.5504
Southwest Pennsylvania Environmental Health Project (EHP)
Our mission is to respond to individuals’ and communities’ need
for access to accurate, timely and trusted public health information and
health services associated with natural gas extraction.
Unconventional Natural Gas
Development in Pennsylvania
SOUTHWEST PENNSYLVANIA ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH PROJECT
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To date, 15,190 unconventional wells have been proposed
or permitted, and 8,576 have been drilled in PA since 2000
Regional Shale Plays
SOUTHWEST PENNSYLVANIA ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH PROJECT
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SOUTHWEST PENNSYLVANIA ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH PROJECT
724.260.5504
EHP ResourcesHealth Evaluation and Support
Nurse practitioner
Health exams
Consultations
Referrals for health services
Health provider education
Clinical toxicity profiles
Accurate, Trusted, and Timely Public Health Information
Identification of exposure pathways
Measurement tools
Consultation on water reports
Assessment of air exposures
Evaluation of health risks
Information assessment
SOUTHWEST PENNSYLVANIA ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH PROJECT
724.260.5504
World Health Organization’s
Public Health Approach
The three main public health functions are:
1. The assessment and monitoring of the health of communities and populations at risk to identify health problems and priorities.
2. The formulation of public policies designed to solve identified local and national health problems and priorities.
3. To assure that all populations have access to appropriate and cost-effective care, including health promotion and disease prevention services.
SOUTHWEST PENNSYLVANIA ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH PROJECT
724.260.5504
EHP Tools for Monitoring
Air monitoring of particulate matter:• Speck
• Dylos
Water monitoring for conductivity and total dissolved solids:• CATTFish
• TDS meters
Soil monitoring: under development this fall
In conjunction with monitoring activities, our Nurse Practitioner is available by appointment in our McMurray office and onsite in Washington County to conduct health evaluations and work with families to seek appropriate medical care.
SOUTHWEST PENNSYLVANIA ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH PROJECT
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http://www.epa.gov/ttn/atw/3_90_024.html
SOUTHWEST PENNSYLVANIA ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH PROJECT
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Unanswered Questions…
Health effects of peak exposures vs. average exposures
Uncertainty regarding health impacts of chemical mixtures
Inadequacy of ambient environmental measurements to reflect the exposure of individuals close to a source
Atypical dose-response relationships of endocrine disrupters
SOUTHWEST PENNSYLVANIA ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH PROJECT
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For More Information
www.environmentalhealthproject.org
724.260-5504
SOUTHWEST PENNSYLVANIA ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH PROJECT
724.260.5504
Southwest Pennsylvania Environmental Health Project (EHP) Health Findings
November 7, 2014
EHP Heath Intakes include: Full health history of client;
Recording of vital signs and symptoms;
Documentation of occupational and household exposures; and
Recommendations for further medical consultations and/or steps to cut off pathways of exposure (air, water, or soil)
UNGD Acute Symptom Inventory(43 patients who met screening criteria)*
______________________________________________
RESPIRATORY SYMPTOMS cough, shortness of breath, wheezing
DERMATOLOGICAL SYMPTOMS rash, itching, burning
EYE SYMPTOMS itching and burning, blurred vision, dry eye, pain
NOSE AND THROAT SYMPTOMS sore throat, sinus pain, nose bleed
GASTRO-INTESTINAL SYMPTOMS nausea, abdominal pain, diarrhea
CONSTITUTIONAL SYMPTOMS fatigue, weakness, weight change, drowsiness
* Screening criteria: Complete intake process, plausible exposure, temporal relationship between exposure and symptom, absence of another likely cause of symptom
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UNGD Acute Symptom Inventory, cont.(43 patients who met screening criteria)*
__________________________________
CARDIAC SYMPTOMS heart rate, chest pain
NEUROLOGICAL SYMPTOMS headache, difficulty concentrating, dizziness, numbness/tingling, word recall trouble
PSYCHIATRIC SYMPTOMS difficulty sleeping, moody/ irritable, anxiety, panic attacks
ENDOCRINE SYMPTOMS hair loss, thinning hair
EARS/HEARING tinnitus, hearing loss
* Screening criteria: Complete intake process, plausible exposure, temporal relationship between exposure and symptom, absence of another likely cause of symptom
724.260.5504
Symptoms Reported to EHP Nurse Practitioner
N=43Individuals reporting
Percentage of total cases
Respiratory 25 58%
Dermatologic 27 62%
Eye 22 51%
Nose & throat 29 67%
Gastro-Intestinal 22 51%
Constitutional 17 39%
Cardiac 8 18%
Neurological 30 70%
Psychiatric 27 62%
Endocrine 5 11%
Ear/hearing 10 23%
• A complete health history was taken;
• Exposures were environmental, not occupational;
• A potential exposure to UNGD had occurred, ANDsymptoms were present where there may have been an exposure.
Criteria for Inclusion
Robert Donnan ©2011
Attribution of symptoms
• Temporal relationship – Development of symptom (or exacerbation of pre-existing symptom) after onset of gas extraction activities.
• Plausible exposure – Identifiable exposure source in proximity to individual experiencing symptoms.
Attribution of symptoms, cont.
• Absence of more likely explanation –Symptoms were not attributed to gas extraction activities if an individual had an underlying medical condition that was as (or more) likely to have caused the symptom, or if an exposure unrelated to gas drilling was as (or more) likely to have caused the symptoms.
Review of reported symptoms
• Symptoms might be persistent, transient, or intermittent. These variations in symptom presentation are consistent with the changing and episodic nature of exposures.
Speck PM 2.5 Air Monitor Screenshot
Respiratory • 25 people reported respiratory symptoms. • That’s 58% of the cases.• Of these 25 people, 80% report cough, 52% report shortness of breath, 36%
reported wheezing.
Breakdown of Symptoms_____________________
Dermatological • 27 people reported dermatological symptoms. • That’s 62% of the cases. • Of these 27 people, 52% report rash, 41% report itching, 11% burning.
Eye• 22 people reported eye symptoms. • That’s 51% of the cases. • Of these 22, 82% reported itching and burning.
Breakdown of Symptoms, Continued_____________________
Cardiac• 8 people reported cardiac symptoms. • That’s 18% of the cases. • Of these 8, 88% reported heart rate changes and 38 reported chest pain.
Neurological• 30 people reported neurological symptoms. • That’s 70% of the cases. • Of these 30 people, 57% report headache, 33% report difficulty
concentrating, 30% report dizziness, 23% report numbness and tingling, and 23% report word recall.
Psychiatric• 27 people reported psychiatric symptoms. • That’s 62% of the cases. • Of those 27 people, 70% reported difficulty sleeping, 44% reported
irritability, and 33% reported anxiety.
Breakdown of Symptoms, Continued_____________________
Nose & throat • 29 people reported nose and throat symptoms. • That’s 67% of the cases. • Of these 29, 72% report sore throat, 48% report sinus pain, and 14% report
nose bleed.
Gastro-Intestinal • 22 people reported GI symptoms. • That’s 51% of the cases. • Of these 22, 60% report nausea, 50% report abdominal pain, and 15%
report diarrhea.
Constitutional• 17 people reported constitutional symptoms. • That’s 39% of the cases. • Of these 17, 88% reported fatigue, 29% reported weakness, 18% reported
weight change, and 12% reported drowsiness.
Number of PM2.5 Peaks and Symptom Type
Eye,Ear,Nose,Throat Respiratory Neurological Stress
GI
Cardiological
Numberof
Peaks
EyeIrritation
TinnitisDry-
MouthNosebleed
Throatirritation
CoughSOB
WheezingHeadache
Concentration
Memoryloss
DizzinessTinglinessNumbness
Anxiety/stressSleepIssues
Abdominal
Pain
Nausea
Dyspnea
/Dizziness
Palpitations
62
X X X
x
47 X
X X X X
X X X
X X X X
44 X X X X X X X X
X X x x X X X
42 X X
X X
X
X X
X
40 X
X X X X
X X X
X X X X
35 X
X
X
X X
x x
24 X
X X
X x x
18 X X
X
X
X
18 X X
X X
X
X X
X
17
X X X
X X
x
X
16
X X X
x
14
X
X
X x x
13
x x
9 X
X X
X x x
8 X
X
X
X X
x x
8
X X X
X X
x
X
8 X
x x
8
X
x x
6
X
x x
Related research on healthCategory Researcher/author
Behavioral/mood
/stress*
SWPA (on-going)
Earthworks (2012)
Ferrar et al. (2013)
Subra (2009)
Perry (2013)
Resick (2013)
Birth Outcomes Hill (2012)
McKenzie (2014)
Cancer risk McKenzie (2012)
Dermal* SWPA (on-going)
Earthworks (2012)
Subra (2009)
Ear, nose, mouth,
throat
Earthworks (2012)
Subra (2010)
Subra (2009)
Eye* SWPA (on-going)
Earthworks (2012)
Bamberger & Oswald
(2012)
Subra (2010)
Subra (2009)
Category Researcher/author
Gastrointestinal Earthworks (2012)
Bamberger & Oswald
(2012)
Ferrar et al. (2013)
High Blood
pressure
Subra (2010)
Muscle/joint pain* Earthworks (2012)
Subra (2010)
Subra (2009)
Neurological* SWPA (on-going)
Bamberger & Oswald
(2012)
Subra (2010)
Subra (2009)
Respiratory* SWPA (on-going)
Earthworks (2012)
Bamberger & Oswald
(2012)
Subra (2009)
References:• Michelle Bamberger and Robert E. Oswald, “Impacts of Gas Drilling on Human and Animal Health,” New Solutions 22(1): 51-
77, 2012.
• Earthworks. Nadia Steinzor, Wilma Subra, and Lisa Sumi. Gas Patch Roulette, October 2012, http://www.earthworksaction.org/library/detail/gas_patch_roulette_full_report#.Uc3MAm11CVo,
• KJ Ferrar, J Kriesky, CL Christen, LP Marshall, SL Malone, RK Sharma, DR Michanowicz, BD Goldstein, “Assessment and Longitudinal Analysis of Health Impacts and Stressors Perceived to Result from Unconventional Shale Gas Development in the Marcellus Shale Region,” International Journal of Occupational and Environmental Health, 2013, Apr-Jun; 19(2):104-12.
• Elaine L. Hill, “Working paper: Unconventional Gas Development and Infant Health: Evidence from Pennsylvania,” July 2012, The Charles H. Dyson School of Applied Economics and Management, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY.
• Lisa M. McKenzie, Roxana Z. Witter, Lee S. Newman, John L Adgate, “Human Health Risk Assessment of Air Emissions from Development of Unconventional Natural Gas Resources,” 2012, Science of the Total Environment, 424, 79-87.
• Lisa M. McKenzie, Ruixin Guo, Roxana Z. Witter, David A. Savitz, Lee S. Newman, and John L. Adgate, Birth Outcomes and Maternal Residential Proximity to Natural Gas Development in Rural Colorado, Environmental Health Perspectives, Vo. 122, Issue 4, April 2014,
• Simona L. Perry, “Using Ethnography to Monitor the Community Health Implications of Onshore Unconventional Oil and Gas Developments: Examples from Pennsylvania’s Marcellus Shale,” New Solutions, 2013, 23 (1), 33-54.
• Lenore K. Resick, Joyce M. Knestrick, Mona M. Counts, Lindsay K Pizzuto, “The Meaning of Health among Mid-Appalachian Women within the Context of the Environment” Journal of Environmental Studies and Science, 2013, DOI 10.1007/s13412-013-0119-y, published on-line, May
• Wilma Subra, “Community Health Survey Results: Pavilion, WY Residents,” 2010. http://www.earthworksaction.org/files/publications/PavillionFINALhealthSurvey-201008.pdf
• Wilma Subra, “Results of Health Survey of Current and Former DISH/Clark, Texas Residents” December 2009. Earthworks’ Oil and Gas Accountability Project, http://www.earthworksaction.org/files/publications/DishTXHealthSurvey_FINAL_hi.pdf
Rabinowitz et al (Yale), Environmental Health Perspectives Sept 2014
• Subjects: Randomly chosen, 180 households/494 individuals with a private water well in Washington County PA
• Exposure: 624 active natural gas wells in Washington County in 2012
• Study: Survey regarding health symptoms
Robert Donnan ©2011
Rabinowitz et al (Yale), Environmental Health Perspectives Sept 2014
ResultsRabinowitz et al, Environmental Health Perspectives Sept 2014
Compared to people living > 2 km from the nearest gas well, people living < 1 km away had a greater incidence of:
• Upper respiratory symptoms (18% vs. 39% )
• Skin symptoms (3% vs. 13%)
• Average number of reported symptoms (1.6 vs. 3.3)
Results were statistically significant even after adjustment for multiple factors.
2014 Birth Outcomes Study
• Birth Outcomes and Maternal Residential
Proximity to Natural Gas Development in
Rural Colorado, Environmental Health
Perspectives, Vo. 122, Issue 4, April 2014
• Lisa M. McKenzie, Ruixin Guo, Roxana Z. Witter, David A. Savitz, Lee S. Newman, and John L. Adgate
Conclusions
• “In this large cohort, we observed an association between density and proximity of natural gas wells within a 10-mile radius of maternal residence and prevalence of congenital heart defects (CHDs) and possibly neural tube defects (NTDs). Greater specificity in exposure estimates are needed to further explore these associations.”
http://ehp.niehs.nih.gov/wp-content/uploads/122/1/ehp.1306722.pdf
• Measured ambient air hydrocarbon emissions– 163 measurements from
fixed monitoring station – 24 samples from perimeter
of well pads (130-500 feet from center) undergoing well completion
• Used EPA guidance to estimate non-cancer and cancer risks for residents living > 1/2 mile from wells and residents living < 1/2 mile from wells
Mckenzie et al. 2012 Study
Colorado Shale Viewer
Content may not reflect National Geographic's current map policy. Sources:National Geographic, Esri, DeLorme, HERE, UNEP-WCMC, USGS, NASA,
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Conclusions from Mckenzie et al. Study
• Residents closest to well pads have higher risks for respiratory and neurological effects based on their exposure to air pollutants.
• Residents living close to natural gas well are at higher excess lifetime risk for cancer than residents who live farther from the wells.
• Emissions measured by the fence line at well completion were statistically higher (p ≤ 0.05) than emissions at the fixed location station. These pollutants include benzene, toluene, and several alkanes.
Health Effects of UNGD Chemicals
• Theo Colborn, the founder of TEDX, and her co-authors published a paper in 2010 Natural Gas Operations from a Public Health Perspective.
• Colborn and her co-authors summarized health effect information for 353 chemicals used to drill and fracture natural gas wells in the United States.
• Colborn’s paper provides a list of 71 particular fracturing chemicals that are associated with 10 or more health effects.
TEDX Findings
• The four most common adverse health effects of the chemicals in the TEDX database are:
• (1) neurotoxicity
• (2) skin/sense organ toxicity
• (3) respiratory problems
• (4) gastrointestinal/liver damage
Conclusions: UNGD-related Potential Health Concerns
• Both chemical and non-chemical exposures produced by gas drilling activities pose health risks to human and animal residents of gas production areas.
• Rapid change resulting from introduction of gas drilling activities into rural communities carries risk of social disruption and mental health consequences.
Community and Social Impacts
of Shale Gas Extraction in Pennsylvania
SOUTHWEST PENNSYLVANIA ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH PROJECT
• Disruption of daily routine by heavy truck traffic
• Increased cost of living, especially higher rental housing costs
• Higher incidence of crime
• Heavy use of health and social services
• More disputes between neighbors with differing opinions
• Loss of “sense of place/community”
• Contributions to communities by gas companies
• Increased economic activity
SOUTHWEST PENNSYLVANIA ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH PROJECT
Social Impacts documented by social science researchers and journalists:
Social determinants of health represent the three categories:
-social environment, -physical environment/total ecology, and
-health services/medical care.
Frequently Asked Questions:http://www.cdc.gov/socialdeterminants/FAQ.html
SOUTHWEST PENNSYLVANIA ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH PROJECT
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What are social determinants of health?
They are factors related to health outcomes which include:
• How a person develops during the first few years of life• How much education a persons obtains • Being able to get and keep a job • What kind of work a person does • Having food or being able to get food (food security) • Having access to quality health services • Housing status • How much money a person earns • Discrimination and social support
Frequently Asked Questions:http://www.cdc.gov/socialdeterminants/FAQ.html
SOUTHWEST PENNSYLVANIA ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH PROJECT
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Traffic
Big trucks on small roads can create congestion, noise, dust, and odors even in sparsely populated areas
Courtesy of: www.fractracker.org
SOUTHWEST PENNSYLVANIA ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH PROJECT
Housing:Impact on Rental Availability & Price
• The establishment of “man camps” for temporary workers
• Higher rents (in some locations increases of 100% and more)
• Those on “economic margins” increasing difficulty finding housing
Photo: http://www.texassharon.com/2009/10/08/chesapeake-energy-brings-a-man-camp-to-marcellus-shale/Source: MARCELLUS NATURAL GAS DEVELOPMENT’S EFFECT ON HOUSING IN PENNSYLVANIA (http://marcellus.psu.edu/resources/PDFs/housingreport.pdf) By J. Williamson and B. Kolb, Lycoming College
SOUTHWEST PENNSYLVANIA ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH PROJECT
Crime and Pressure on Community Social Services
(many not yet measured and/or measureable)
• Increased rates of crime
• Drug and alcohol abuse
• Sexually-transmitted
infections (STIs)
• Domestic violence
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Community Tensions
• “Haves” and “Have Nots”
• “Old Timers” and “Newcomers”
• Losing “Sense of Place or Community”
http://ckilpatrick.weebly.com/thinker.html http://money.cnn.com/2011/05/09/news/economy/natural_gas_fracking_duke/index.htm
http://www.flickr.com/photos/29184238@N06/8488194752/
SOUTHWEST PENNSYLVANIA ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH PROJECT
Economic Impacts
• Job creation in shale gas industry now and in future
• Job creation in “ancillary industries”
• Income from leasing of mineral rights
• Increased revenues for state and local governments
Positive
• Decrease in property values
• Increase in rental housing costs
• Losses experienced by non-related industries
Negative
Photo courtesy of: http://naturalgasresourcecenter.com/tag/marcellus-shale-jobs/
SOUTHWEST PENNSYLVANIA ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH PROJECT
Job Creation
In 2013, the Multi-State Shale Research Collaborative, a joint effort of:• Pennsylvania Budget Policy Center, • Keystone Research Center (PA), • Fiscal Policy Institute in New York, • Policy Matters Ohio, • West Virginia Center on Budget & Policy, &• The Commonwealth Institute in Virginia
Between 2005 and 2012, less than four new direct shale-related jobs have been created for each new well drilled, much less than estimates as high as 31 direct jobs per well in some industry-financed studies.
http://www.multistateshale.org/shale-employment-report
SOUTHWEST PENNSYLVANIA ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH PROJECT
Job Creation (continued)
Region-wide, shale-related employment accounts for just one out of every 794 jobs. By contrast, education and health sectorsaccount for one out of every 6 jobs.
SOUTHWEST PENNSYLVANIA ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH PROJECT
Job Creation (continued)
Job growth in the industry has been greatest (as a share of total employment) in West Virginia. Still, shale-related employment is less than 1 percent of total West Virginia employment and less than half a percent of total employment in all the other states.
SOUTHWEST PENNSYLVANIA ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH PROJECT
Income from Mineral Rights
http://marcellus.psu.edu/resources/PDFs/Economic%20Impact%20of%20Marcellus%20Shale%202009.pdfEconomic Impacts of Marcellus Shale in Pennsylvania: Employment and Income in 2009
• Mineral rights owners collect – maybe as much as $1-2 million per well
• Landowners save or invest about 55 percent of total leasing dollars within the year, rather than spending them immediately
• They save or invest about 66 percent of all royalty dollars
SOUTHWEST PENNSYLVANIA ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH PROJECT
Income from Mineral Rights
Journalist, Kevin Begos reported:
“In Pennsylvania alone, royalty payments could top $1.2 billion for 2012, according to an Associated Press analysis that looked at state tax information, production records and estimates from the National Association of Royalty Owners.”
Source: http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_GAS_DRILLING_ROYALTIES?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2013-01-27-17-43-51
SOUTHWEST PENNSYLVANIA ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH PROJECT
Tax Collections from Act 13
• Legislation signed into law in 2012 assesses a per well user fee.
• Payments collected so far:
2012 $204.2 million 2013 $202.5 million 2014 $224.5 million
Photo courtesy of http://www.google.com/search?gs_rn=15&gs_ri=psyab&gs_mss=capitaol+b&suggest=p&cp=11&gs_id=16&xhr=t&q=capitol+building&bav=on.2,or.r_qf.&bvm=bv.47244034,d.dmg&biw=1040&bih=703&wrapid=tljp1370371231259020&um=1&ie=UTF-8&hl=en&tbm=isch&source=og&sa=N&tab=wi&ei=pTSuUdCkOZfl4AP5n4CYCQSource: Marcellus Shale Coalition, New Marcellus Shale Fee “Yields Higher-Than-Expected Revenue” (Sep 11, 2012) (available at http://marcelluscoalition.org/2012/09/new-marcellus-shale-fee-yields-higher-than-expected-revenue/); Navigating Shale Gas Development, 2014
SOUTHWEST PENNSYLVANIA ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH PROJECT
Influence on Property Values
• Concerns about groundwater risks associated with drilling "lead to a large and significant reduction in property values…“
• "These reductions offset any gains to the owners of groundwater-dependent properties from lease payments or improved local economic conditions, and may even lead to a net drop in prices.“
• Well drilling seems to have impacts on properties up to 2000 meters from a well -- more than a mile.
• Property value decrease estimated at 23.6% if property depends on private drinking water wells.
Photo courtesy of Shale Gas Development and Property Values, Differences across Drinking Water Sources, NBER Working Paper No. 18390, September 2012, http://www.nber.org/papers/w1839
Source: NBER Working Paper No. 18390, September 2012,http://www.nber.org/papers/w18390
SOUTHWEST PENNSYLVANIA ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH PROJECT
Impacts on Unrelated Industries
Concern over loss of income in areas close to drilling
For example:
• Farmers in southwest Pennsylvania report deaths of cattle and stillborn calves in areas where fracking has occurred.
• Nature Conservancy and other PA conservation organizations
– estimated 38,000 - 90,000 acres of forest cleared for drilling by 2030
– Resulting loss of scenic beauty and recreational opportunities, wildlife habitat and air and water purification – may reach $27 million per year.
Statistics courtesy of: Flowback Water, WIKIMARCELLUS, http://waytogoto.com/wiki/indix.php/Flowback_waterTony Dutzik et al., PennEnvironment Research and Policy Center, The Cost of Fracking: The Price Tag of Dirty Drilling's Environmental Damage (2012) available at
http://penenvironmentcenter.org/sites/environment/files/reports/The%20Costs%20of%20Frackig%20vPA_0.pdf.Photo courtesy of http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/news/nation/story/2012-05-29/fracking-environment-gas/55845708/1
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Impacts on local infrastructure
Degradation of roads through heavy use and overweight trucks occurs regularly in heavily drilled areas.
Courtesy of: www.fractracker.org
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Traffic-Related Costs to Communities
Courtesy of:http://www.wcag-wv.org/A/Accidents/10-1223_Anthony/Anthony.htm
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Social & Economic Impacts and Health
These social determinants of health can contribute to:
• Stress that directly impacts individuals’ health
• Change in physical and social environments that indirectly contribute to health problems
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State Policy:
Topics addressed:
• Drilling setbacks from residences, businesses, streams, etc.
• Collection and distribution of user fees paid on per well basis
• Local governments’ ability to regulate drilling activities
• Chemical disclosures required by companies and access to proprietary data by medical professionals
Act 13, the comprehensive shale gas legislation signed into law in February 2012
Courtesy of: https://www.google.com/search?q=images+of+shale+gas+drilling+in+PA&client=firefox-a&hs=Oab&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ei=xOmsUZOFIerL0gHt7oHICA&ved=0CE4QsAQ&biw=1366&bih=664
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Marcellus Shale Commission’s Health Recommendations
• Collection and evaluation of clinical data
• Evaluation and assessment of Marcellus Shale-related environmental data
• Population-based health registry
• System to provide investigation of and response to concerns/complaints
• Education of health care providers on presentation and assessment of human illness
• Establishment of public education programs
For Department of Health Activity:
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Photo courtesy of : DepositPhotos.com
These recommendations weren’t part of the law. Why not?
“In fact, the recommendations directly related to the Department of Health do not require legislation. They can be advanced through the agency’s traditional policy implementations – indeed, many already reflect what the department does day in and day out.”
-Patrick HendersonEnergy Executive, Office of the GovernorPittsburgh Post Gazette, 3/14/12
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State Policy
Hydraulic fracturing chemical disclosure requirements:
• Limited availability of identity and amount of chemicalsclaimed to be confidential proprietary
• Medical emergency disclosure to health professional upon verbal acknowledgment
• Health professional provides written statement of need and confidentiality
Act 13 Provisions Related to HealthCourtesy of: DepositPhotos.com
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Our Interpretation
Drs. Bernard Goldstein & Jill KrieskyUniversity of Pittsburgh GSPH
Pittsburgh Post Gazette, 3/12/12
“It is a breach of a physician’s responsibilities not to report a public health threat, as well as a contradiction of established public health practice and law.”
A physician may receive information about proprietary
chemicals, but must agree not to reveal this
information to the public, even if it is likely that the
same chemicals that made her/his patient sick are likely
to impact the health of others.
Photo Courtesy of: DepositPhotos.com
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Companies Responsibility to ReportSection 3332.1(c)3:
A vendor, service provider or operator shall not be required to…
Disclose chemicals that may
• occur incidentally
• occur unintentionally in trace amounts
• be incidental result of chemical reactionor chemical process
• be constituents of naturally occurring materialsPhoto courtesy of: https://www.google.com/search?q=images+of+shale+gas+drilling+in+PA&client=firefox-a&hs=Oab&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ei=xOmsUZOFIerL0gHt7oHICA&ved=0CE4QsAQ&biw=1366&bih=664#client=firefox-a&rls=org.mozilla:en-US%3Aofficial&tbm=isch&sa=1&q=PROTEST+FRACKING&oq=PROTEST+FRACKING&gs_l=img.3..0i24.410999.414923.0.415254.16.11.0.5.5.0.66.486.11.11.0...0.0...1c.1.15.img.s84Fqt20MKA&bav=on.2,or.r_qf.&bvm=bv.47244034,d.dmQ&fp=c6f2b15b3e959c13&biw=1307&bih=685
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Whether or not intentional, our reading of this
language leads us to conclude that a company can withhold
information about chemicals that drilling brings up from
underground, including the natural gas constituents which
themselves can be toxic, and naturally occurring toxic agents
such as arsenic, barium, brine components and radioactive
compounds dissolved in the flowback water.
Our Interpretation
Drs. Bernard Goldstein & Jill Kriesky, University of Pittsburgh GSPH, Pittsburgh Post Gazette, 3/12/12
Photo courtesy of: http://fuelfix.com/blog/2012/04/12/docs-say-drilling-law-hurts-health/
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EHP Air and Water
Monitoring
Projects
Ohio Environmental
Council
Raina RippelSWPA EHP DirectorNovember 7, 2014
www.environmentalhealthproject.org
UNGD Sources of Air Pollution
Fugitive
Emissions
Dehydration Vehicles/
Engines
Flaring Pits
Particulate
MatterX X X
Hydrogen
SulfideX X
Ozone O O O
CO X X
NOx X X
SO2 X X
VOCS X X X X X
BTEX X X X X X
Methane X X X
NORMs X X X
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Air Pollution, UNGD, & Health
Pulmonary Neurologic Reproductive Dermal Hematologic
Particulate
MatterX X
Hydrogen
SulfideX X X
Ozone O
CO X X
NOx X
SO2 X
VOCS X X X X X
BTEX X X X X X
Methane
NORMsX X X
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The Speck Air Monitor:
Developed by Carnegie Mellon University
CREATE Lab in 2013 to continuously record
particulate matter (PM2.5) levels
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Color coding for
Speck readings of
PM2.5 are based on
the US Air Quality
Index (AQI).
The Environmental
Protection Agency
sets AQI standards to
indicate air quality
levels that are
acceptable or
harmful for human
(http://specksensor.o
rg/what_is_speck)
EPA Air Quality Index
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EHP’s Speck Distribution Project
Specks placed in household and/or in protected outdoor area for ~3 weeks
Residents asked to track UNGD activities, other events that might generate high PM readings, and health symptoms experienced
Upon return of the Speck to EHP, Environmental Health Educator Ryan Grodegenerates report returned to the resident within 2 weeks
Speck Screenshot
The bottom shows the amount of time that has passed since the monitor was turned on
The colors on the left of the chart represent the EPA’s AQI (air quality index)
As time progresses, the monitor will allow you to visualize the spikes in particulate matter data that is being collected
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Health Effects of PM 2.5 Inhaling PM2.5 can
cause coughing or wheezing
Exposure over an extended amount of time can contribute or worsen illnesses such as asthma, heart diseases, chronic bronchitis, emphysema and pneumonia
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Air Pollution and Health
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Speck Monitoring ResultsThe following is a review of 20 citizens who have monitored air with Specks:
Note: Most spikes occurred from 10pm – 3am The fewest spikes occurred from 3am – 11am This data trend holds true at larger sampling sizes
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Peaks in Morning (3 A.M.-11 A.M.)
Peaks in Afternoon (11 A.M.- 5 P.M.)
Peaks in Evening (5 P.M.- 10 P.M.)
Peaks at Night (10 P.M.-3 A.M.)
Number
of spikes
in 1
month of
data
89 119 92 137
How’s the Weather?
EHP has designed an air exposure model called ‘How’s The Weather’ that is available to the public. The model is used to determine exposure levels throughout the day based upon weather patterns.
The ‘How’s the Weather’ program is often used alongside Speck monitoring to predict ahead of time if the results will be high or low.
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Water-related Concerns
UNGD-related water exposures are less
predictable than air.
Potential for drinking water contamination
from:
Chemicals (Man-made and natural)
Radioactivity
Microbes
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The CATTFish Water Monitor:
Developed by Carnegie Mellon University
CREATE Lab in 2013 to record conductivity
and temperature levels each time a reset
button is pushed.
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EHP CATTFish Distribution Project:
Sixty monitors distributed in Washington County, PA,
in collaboration with the Washington County
Watershed Association in 2013-14;
Process for recording data, receiving reports on
results similar to that for Specks described above;
EHP has additional 40 CATTFish to distribute now.
NEITHER THE CATTFISH NOR SPECK PROVIDE DATA
ON SPECIFIC CONTAMINANTS, BUT INDICATE WHEN
FURTHER TESTING AND/OR ACTION MAY BE NEEDED!
What about
food/soil?
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Robert Donnan
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Next Steps for EHP:
Health intakes
Continue intakes possibly in expanded region;
Analyze aggregate results with monitoring results to
understand exposures relation to symptoms better
Air and water monitoring
Continue providing Specks and CATTFish possibly in
expanded region;
Analyze aggregate results to better describe
exposures
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More next steps for EHP:
Help residents cope with environmental changes;
Educate health care professionals about health
symptoms and potential causes; and
Provide community-based organizations with
health-related information to advocate for policy
changes.
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EHP’s Academic Partnerships
Academic internships
Collaboration or support for academic research projects
Semester-, summer-, and year-long
graduate and undergraduate internships
Why?
Leverage our funding;
Tap into expertise not represented on EHP team;
Prepare UNGD researchers of the future;
Become acquainted with future research partners.
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Semester-, summer-, and year-long graduate and
undergraduate internships (continued)
What do they do?
Assist with program development & delivery Air Modeling Train-the-trainer (2013)
Take Steps to Health (2013-14)
Conduct literature reviews for future
program development & publications Soil contamination lit review (2014)
International journal lit review on air contamination(2014)
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Semester-, summer-, and year-long graduate and
undergraduate internships (continued)
What do they do?
Data analysis CATTFish water quality data analysis (2014)
Health intake data analysis (current)
Program evaluation Speck usage interviews and survey (2014)
Tracking & analysis of inquiries to EHP (2013-current)
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Semester-, summer-, and year-long graduate and
undergraduate internships (continued)
Who are they?
University of Pittsburgh – School of Social Work (2)
University of Pittsburgh –School of Public Health(2)
Carlow University – School of Nursing
Chatham University – School of Sustainability
West Virginia University – School of Public Health
Northeastern University – Social Science
Environmental Health Research Institute
University of Pittsburgh, Johnstown – undergraduate
Wheeling Jesuit University -- undergraduate
EHP Collaboration and/or Support
for Academic Research Projects
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Why?
Interest in advancing knowledge about UNGD
health effects;
Opportunity to influence the focus of research;
Alternative methods or types of data collected &
analyzed.
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EHP Collaboration or Support for Academic Research (continued)
What projects?
Air, water, health survey data collection & analysis
Yale University Washington County study (2012)
University of Pittsburgh pilot project (2013)
University of Washington/Yale Exposure Response pilot
(2014)
Noise
Indiana University – Pennsylvania study (2014)
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EHP Collaboration or Support for Academic Research (continued)
What are the challenges?
Research fatigue;
Treatment as “research subjects”;
Failure to provide timely results;
Focus on publications over immediate needs of
community.
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EHP’s Community Partnerships
What projects?
Community education;
Health care provider education;
Low-cost air and water monitoring;
Information for advocacy.
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EHP’s Community Partnerships
Why?
Our two-way connection
to local communities
Our links to the national
community of interest
Similar projects & data
collection efforts
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Promising Community Collaborations (continued)
Community Education
Community at large
League of Women Voters (LWV) annual meetings
Wellness and Water Coalition (WV) annual meetings
Local impacted communities
Villa Maria Retreat Center and town meeting
Wheeling Jesuit University Appalachian Institute
community meeting
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Community Partnerships
Health Care Provider Education
Physicians, Scientists and Engineers for Healthy Energy
(PSE) on-line CME sessions (2012);
Alliance of Nurses for Healthy Environments (ANHE) mid-
Atlantic meetings (2013);
Washington County Medical Society (2014);
Ohio Environmental Council (today!).
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Community Partnerships
Low-cost water and air monitoring
Washington County Watershed Alliance CATTFishdissemination project (2013-14);
Marcellus Outreach-Butler, Mountain Watershed Alliance and FracTracker West Virginia assistance with distribution of Speck air monitors;
Earthworks collaboration on analysis of air emissions data;
Global Community Monitor, Public Lab and Louisiana Bucket Brigade Community-based Science for Action Conference.
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Community Partnerships
Information for advocacy
“Human Health Impacts of Marcellus Shale Gas Extraction: Where Do They Come From?” at PowerShift national conference, 2013;
“How the Fracking Industry Impacts our Water, Air, Food Supply, and Children’s Health” for Beaver County Marcellus Awareness Public Forum, 2014;
Research work group participation for Protect Our Children Coalition, ongoing;
Research support for the Mars and Fort Cherry Parent groups, ongoing.
Where to go for more information:
SOUTHWEST PENNSYLVANIA ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH PROJECT
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