Malignant human cell transformation of Marcellus Shale gas drilling flow back water

Yao, Yixin; Chen, Tingting; Shen, Steven S.; Niu, Yingmei; DesMarais, Thomas L.; Linn, Reka; Saunders, Eric L.; Fan, Zhihua; Lioy, Paul J.; Kluz, Thomas; Chen, Lung Chi; Wu, Zhuangchun; Costa, Max

doi:10.1016/j.taap.2015.07.011

Cited by 10 publications

(4 citation statements)

References 22 publications

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“…In the context of shale gas, the situation is even more complex as the use of chemicals in hydraulic fracturing of the argillaceous host rocks has raised strong public concerns on health effects, both of flowback water spills and leaks to surface water or groundwater resources and of stray gas. [64,65]. Much effort is put into optimizing water and groundwater monitoring [66,67].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Towards a Better Knowledge of Natural Methane Releases in the French Alps: A Field Approach

2019

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We report investigations performed at some hydrocarbon gas seeps located in the French Subalpine Chains in zones of outcropping Jurassic black shales, increasing the reported number of such occurrences in this part of the Alps. We present the characteristics of each of the seeps, based on soil flux measurements and soil gas measurements. Gases emitted are CH4-rich (87–94%) with the exception of one site (78.5% CH4 + 8.2% CO2) where an active landslide may induce dilution by atmospheric air. CO2 is generally measured at low levels (<1.6%). Concentrations in C2H6 are more variable, from less than 1% to more than 2.3%. Gas is emitted over areas of various sizes. The smallest gas emission area measures only 60×20 cm, characterized by a strong hydrocarbon flux (release of about 100 kg of CH4 per year). At a second site, hydrocarbon emissions are measured over a surface of 12 m2. For this site, methane emission is evaluated at 235 kg per year and CO2 emission is 600 kg per year, 210 kg being related to gas seepage. At the third site, hydrocarbons are released over a 60 m2 area but strong gas venting is restricted to localized seeps. Methane emission is evaluated at 5.1 tons per year and CO2 emission at 1.58 tons per year, out of which 0.53 tons are attributed to gas seepage. Several historical locations remain uninvestigated at present, and numerous others may still be unknown. We outline strategies to search for such unrecorded sites. Considering the topography of the potential alpine and perialpine emission areas, the possibilities to detect gas emissions appear of the size recorded so far seem to be restricted to ground-based methods or to methods offering the possibility to point orthogonally to the soil towards the seep maximum. If such sites are to be investigated in the future in the frame of Environmental Baseline Assessment (EBA), even establishing appropriate monitoring protocols will be challenging.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Towards a Better Knowledge of Natural Methane Releases in the French Alps: A Field Approach

2019

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“…An experimental study on the carcinogenicity of hydraulic fracturing wastewater observed that immortalized human bronchial epithelial cells exposed to flowback water collected from unconventional natural gas drilling of the Marcellus Shale underwent malignant transformation and exhibited altered morphology compared to parental cells (Yao et al, 2015). The flowback water sample contained relatively high concentrations of barium and strontium.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Unconventional oil and gas development and risk of childhood leukemia: Assessing the evidence

Elliott

Trinh

et al. 2017

Science of The Total Environment

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The widespread distribution of unconventional oil and gas (UO&G) wells and other facilities in the United States potentially exposes millions of people to air and water pollutants, including known or suspected carcinogens. Childhood leukemia is a particular concern because of the disease severity, vulnerable population, and short disease latency. A comprehensive review of carcinogens and leukemogens associated with UO&G development is not available and could inform future exposure monitoring studies and human health assessments. The objective of this analysis was to assess the evidence of carcinogenicity of water contaminants and air pollutants related to UO&G development. We obtained a list of 1177 chemicals in hydraulic fracturing fluids and wastewater from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and constructed a list of 143 UO&G-related air pollutants through a review of scientific papers published through 2015 using PubMed and ProQuest databases. We assessed carcinogenicity and evidence of increased risk for leukemia/lymphoma of these chemicals using International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) monographs. The majority of compounds (>80%) were not evaluated by IARC and therefore could not be reviewed. Of the 111 potential water contaminants and 29 potential air pollutants evaluated by IARC (119 unique compounds), 49 water and 20 air pollutants were known, probable, or possible human carcinogens (55 unique compounds). A total of 17 water and 11 air pollutants (20 unique compounds) had evidence of increased risk for leukemia/lymphoma, including benzene, 1,3-butadiene, cadmium, diesel exhaust, and several polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. Though information on the carcinogenicity of compounds associated with UO&G development was limited, our assessment identified 20 known or suspected carcinogens that could be measured in future studies to advance exposure and risk assessments of cancer-causing agents. Our findings support the need for investigation into the relationship between UO&G development and risk of cancer in general and childhood leukemia in particular.

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“…This is not surprising, as these articles cite many of the "Animal-Focused Articles" listed above as supporting evidence. For instance, studies show that chemicals used in hydraulic fracturing pose a risk to ecosystems (Entrekin et al 2018;He et al 2017;Loh and Loh 2016;Vandecasteele et al 2015;Yao et al 2015). Specifically, Kassotis et al (2016b) find that injection well disposal sites reveal elevated levels of toxins that could disrupt reproduction and development in aquatic animals (see, e.g., Elliott et al 2017).…”

Section: Animal-observant Articlesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Exploring the Place of Animals and Human–Animal Relationships in Hydraulic Fracturing Discourse

Whitley

2019

Social Sciences

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Throughout human history, energy security has been a prominent concern. Historically, animals were used as energy providers and as companions and sentinels in mining operations. While animals are seldom used for these purposes in developed communities today, this legacy of use is likely to have far-reaching consequences for how animals and human–animal relationships are acknowledged in energy development. The US is currently experiencing an energy boom in the form of high volume horizontal drilling and hydraulic fracturing (HVHHF); because animals are the most at risk from this boom, this study uses a thorough content analysis of peer-reviewed HVHHF articles mentioning animals from 2012–2018 to assess how animals and human–animal relationships are discussed. Three dominant article theme classifications emerge: animal-focused articles, animal-observant articles, and animal sentinel articles. Across themes, articles seldom acknowledge the inherent value or the social and psychological importance of animals in human lives; instead, the focus is almost exclusively on the use of animals as sentinels for potential human health risks. Further, what is nearly absent from this body of literature is any social science research. Given that relationships with animals are an integral part of human existence, this study applies environmental justice principles, serving as a call to action for social science scholars to address the impacts of HVHHF on animals and human–animal relationships.

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Malignant human cell transformation of Marcellus Shale gas drilling flow back water

Cited by 10 publications

References 22 publications

Towards a Better Knowledge of Natural Methane Releases in the French Alps: A Field Approach

Towards a Better Knowledge of Natural Methane Releases in the French Alps: A Field Approach

Unconventional oil and gas development and risk of childhood leukemia: Assessing the evidence

Exploring the Place of Animals and Human–Animal Relationships in Hydraulic Fracturing Discourse

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