Human health risk assessment of air emissions from development of unconventional natural gas resources

McKenzie, Lisa M.; Witter, Roxana Z.; Newman, Lee S.; Adgate, John L.

doi:10.1016/j.scitotenv.2012.02.018

Cited by 488 publications

(409 citation statements)

References 10 publications

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“…Air monitoring for BTEX has been conducted during various stages of well development and production at some well sites in Colorado (McKenzie et al, 2012). In the environment, BTEX can volatilize from soil or the water's surface, and once volatilized, BTEX disperse and readily biodegrade (e.g., benzene degrades in days, and toluene degrades in the atmosphere within hours); BTEX can also pass through soil into the groundwater.…”

Section: Btex Measurementsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Analysis of BTEX groundwater concentrations from surface spills associated with hydraulic fracturing operations

Gross¹,

Avens²,

Banducci³

et al. 2013

Journal of the Air & Waste Management Association

149

124

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Section: Btex Measurementsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Analysis of BTEX groundwater concentrations from surface spills associated with hydraulic fracturing operations

Gross¹,

Avens²,

Banducci³

et al. 2013

Journal of the Air & Waste Management Association

149

124

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“…Among the environmental consequences of increased oil and gas production are impacts on land use, impacts on water use (Nicot and Scanlon, 2012), water contamination (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency [EPA], 2012;Osborn et al, 2011;Vidic et al, 2013;Rahm and Riha, 2012), criteria air pollutant and air toxics releases (McKenzie et al, 2012;Litovitz et al, 2013;Pacsi et al, 2013, and greenhouse gas emissions (Laurenzi et al, 2013;Miller et al, 2013;Brandt et al, 2014;Balcombe et al, 2015). Given the potential scope and magnitude of the economic and industrial transformations that increased oil and gas production can lead to, it is important to understand, as thoroughly as possible, the environmental implications of the transformations.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Emissions from oil and gas operations in the United States and their air quality implications

Allen

2016

Journal of the Air & Waste Management Association

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The energy supply infrastructure in the United States has been changing dramatically over the past decade. Increased production of oil and natural gas, particularly from shale resources using horizontal drilling and hydraulic fracturing, made the United States the world's largest producer of oil and natural gas in 2014. This review examines air quality impacts, specifically, changes in greenhouse gas, criteria air pollutant, and air toxics emissions from oil and gas production activities that are a result of these changes in energy supplies and use. National emission inventories indicate that volatile organic compound (VOC) and nitrogen oxide (NO x ) emissions from oil and gas supply chains in the United States have been increasing significantly, whereas emission inventories for greenhouse gases have seen slight declines over the past decade. These emission inventories are based on counts of equipment and operational activities (activity factors), multiplied by average emission factors, and therefore are subject to uncertainties in these factors. Although uncertainties associated with activity data and missing emission source types can be significant, multiple recent measurement studies indicate that the greatest uncertainties are associated with emission factors. In many source categories, small groups of devices or sites, referred to as super-emitters, contribute a large fraction of emissions. When super-emitters are accounted for, multiple measurement approaches, at multiple scales, produce similar results for estimated emissions. Challenges moving forward include identifying super-emitters and reducing their emission magnitudes. Work done to date suggests that both equipment malfunction and operational practices can be important. Finally, although most of this review focuses on emissions from energy supply infrastructures, the regional air quality implications of some coupled energy production and use scenarios are examined. These case studies suggest that both energy production and use should be considered in assessing air quality implications of changes in energy infrastructures, and that impacts are likely to vary among regions. Implications: The energy supply infrastructure in the United States has been changing dramatically over the past decade, leading to changes in emissions from oil and natural gas supply chain sources. In many source categories along these supply chains, small groups of devices or sites, referred to as super-emitters, contribute a large fraction of emissions. Effective emission reductions will require technologies for both identifying super-emitters and reducing their emission magnitudes. PAPER HISTORY

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“…On the topic of further research, Werner et al [64] stated that the literature does not allow for any negative health impacts associated with hydraulic fracturing to be ruled out. McKenzie et al [65] and McKenzie et al [66] suggested that the impact of atmospheric emissions on human health warrant further study, emphasizing that they potentially have non-trivial effects on maternal health. Jenner and Lamadrid [67] studied the cost-benefit analysis of hydraulic fracturing in terms of direct comparison with coal.…”

Section: F Castro-alvarez Et Al Renewable and Sustainable Energy Rementioning

confidence: 99%

Sustainability lessons from shale development in the United States for Mexico and other emerging unconventional oil and gas developers

Castro-Alvarez

Marsters

Baridó

et al. 2018

Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews

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A B S T R A C TMexico's recent energy reform (2013) has provided the foundations for increased private participation in attempts to offset or reverse the country's continued decline in fossil fuel production. This country is currently on path to becoming a net energy importer by 2020. Conversely, in 2015, and for the first time in over 20 years, the United States (US) became a net oil exporter to Mexico. One of the strategies being pursued by Mexico to prevent an impending supply-demand energy imbalance is the development of shale resources using horizontal drilling and hydraulic fracturing techniques. Hence, an evaluation of the inherent risks associated with hydraulic fracturing is crucial for Mexico's energy planning and decision-making process. This paper draws lessons from the recent 'shale boom' in the US, and it analyzes and summarizes the environmental, social, economic, and community impacts that Mexico should be aware of as its nascent shale industry develops. The analysis seeks to inform mainly Mexican policy makers, but also academics, nongovernmental organizations, and the public in general, about the main concerns regarding hydraulic fracturing activities, and the importance of regulatory enforcement and community engagement in advancing sustainability. Furthermore, using the US as a case study, we argue that development of unconventional oil and gas resources in Mexico could lead to a short-term boom rather than to a dependable and sustainable long-term energy supply. Our analysis concludes with a set of recommendations for Mexico, featuring best practices that could be used to attenuate and address some of the impacts likely to emerge from shale oil and gas development.

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Human health risk assessment of air emissions from development of unconventional natural gas resources

Cited by 488 publications

References 10 publications

Analysis of BTEX groundwater concentrations from surface spills associated with hydraulic fracturing operations

Analysis of BTEX groundwater concentrations from surface spills associated with hydraulic fracturing operations

Emissions from oil and gas operations in the United States and their air quality implications

Sustainability lessons from shale development in the United States for Mexico and other emerging unconventional oil and gas developers

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