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Soriano MA, Warren JL, Clark CJ, Johnson NP, Siegel HG, Deziel NC, Saiers JE. Social Vulnerability and Groundwater Vulnerability to Contamination From Unconventional Hydrocarbon Extraction in the Appalachian Basin. GEOHEALTH 2023; 7:e2022GH000758. [PMID: 37064218 PMCID: PMC10100439 DOI: 10.1029/2022gh000758] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2022] [Revised: 02/20/2023] [Accepted: 03/07/2023] [Indexed: 06/19/2023]
Abstract
Unconventional oil and gas (UOG) development, made possible by horizontal drilling and high-volume hydraulic fracturing, has been fraught with controversy since the industry's rapid expansion in the early 2000's. Concerns about environmental contamination and public health risks persist in many rural communities that depend on groundwater resources for drinking and other daily needs. Spatial disparities in UOG risks can pose distributive environmental injustice if such risks are disproportionately borne by marginalized communities. In this paper, we analyzed groundwater vulnerability to contamination from UOG as a physically based measure of risk in conjunction with census tract level sociodemographic characteristics describing social vulnerability in the northern Appalachian Basin. We found significant associations between elevated groundwater vulnerability and lower population density, consistent with UOG development occurring in less densely populated rural areas. We also found associations between elevated groundwater vulnerability and lower income, higher proportions of elderly populations, and higher proportion of mobile homes, suggesting a disproportionate risk burden on these socially vulnerable groups. We did not find a statistically significant association between elevated groundwater vulnerability and populations of racial/ethnic minorities in our study region. Household surveys provided empirical support for a relationship between sociodemographic characteristics and capacity to assess and mitigate exposures to potentially contaminated water. Further research is needed to probe if the observed disparities translate to differences in chemical exposure and adverse health outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mario A. Soriano
- School of the EnvironmentYale UniversityNew HavenCTUSA
- Integrated GroundWater Modeling CenterHigh Meadows Environmental InstitutePrinceton UniversityPrincetonNJUSA
| | - Joshua L. Warren
- Department of BiostatisticsSchool of Public HealthYale UniversityNew HavenCTUSA
| | - Cassandra J. Clark
- Department of Environmental Health SciencesSchool of Public HealthYale UniversityNew HavenCTUSA
| | - Nicholaus P. Johnson
- Department of Environmental Health SciencesSchool of Public HealthYale UniversityNew HavenCTUSA
| | | | - Nicole C. Deziel
- Department of Environmental Health SciencesSchool of Public HealthYale UniversityNew HavenCTUSA
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da Silva CMF, da Silva ED, Melchuna A, Arinelli L, Hori ES, Lucas EF. Correlation between Methods to Determine Total Oil and Grease in Synthetic Oily Water Using Heavy Oil: Gravimetry vs Fluorimetry. Ind Eng Chem Res 2022. [DOI: 10.1021/acs.iecr.2c03136] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Carla M. F. da Silva
- Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Institute of Macromolecules/LMCP, Rua Moniz Aragão, 360, bloco 8G/CT2, 21941-594Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Edilson D. da Silva
- Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Institute of Macromolecules/LMCP, Rua Moniz Aragão, 360, bloco 8G/CT2, 21941-594Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Aline Melchuna
- Equinor Brazil, R. do Russel, 802 - Glória, 22210-010Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Lara Arinelli
- Equinor Brazil, R. do Russel, 802 - Glória, 22210-010Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Eduardo S. Hori
- Equinor Brazil, R. do Russel, 802 - Glória, 22210-010Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Elizabete F. Lucas
- Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Institute of Macromolecules/LMCP, Rua Moniz Aragão, 360, bloco 8G/CT2, 21941-594Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
- Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Metallurgical and Materials Engineering Program/COPPE/LADPOL, Av. Horácio Macedo, 2030, bloco F, 21941-598Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
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Siegel HG, Soriano MA, Clark CJ, Johnson NP, Wulsin HG, Deziel NC, Plata DL, Darrah TH, Saiers JE. Natural and Anthropogenic Processes Affecting Domestic Groundwater Quality within the Northwestern Appalachian Basin. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2022; 56:13761-13773. [PMID: 36129683 PMCID: PMC9536308 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.2c04011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/03/2022] [Revised: 08/29/2022] [Accepted: 09/08/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Domestic wells serve as the primary drinking-water source for rural residents in the northern Appalachian Basin (NAB), despite a limited understanding of contaminant distributions in groundwater sources. We employ a newly collected dataset of 216 water samples from domestic wells in Ohio and West Virginia and an integrated contaminant-source attribution method to describe water quality in the western NAB and characterize key agents influencing contaminant distributions. Our results reveal arsenic and nitrate concentrations above federal maximum contaminant levels (MCLs) in 6.8 and 1.3% of samples and manganese concentrations above health advisory in 7.3% of samples. Recently recharged groundwaters beneath upland regions appear vulnerable to surface-related impacts, including nitrate pollution from agricultural activities and salinization from road salting and domestic sewage sources. Valley regions serve as terminal discharge points for long-residence-time groundwaters, where mixing with basin brines is possible. Arsenic impairments occurred in alkaline groundwaters with major-ion compositions altered by ion exchange and in low-oxygen metal-rich groundwaters. Mixing with as much as 4-10% of mine discharge-like waters was observed near coal mining operations. Our study provides new insights into key agents of groundwater impairment in an understudied region of the NAB and presents an integrated approach for contaminant-source attribution applicable to other regions of intensive resource extraction.
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Affiliation(s)
- H. G. Siegel
- School
of the Environment, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut 06411, United States
| | - M. A. Soriano
- School
of the Environment, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut 06411, United States
| | - C. J. Clark
- School
of Public Health, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut 06511, United States
| | - N. P. Johnson
- School
of Public Health, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut 06511, United States
| | - H. G. Wulsin
- School
of Earth Sciences, Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio 43210, United States
| | - N. C. Deziel
- School
of Public Health, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut 06511, United States
| | - D. L. Plata
- Department
of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, United States
| | - T. H. Darrah
- School
of Earth Sciences, Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio 43210, United States
- Ohio
State University Global Water Institute, Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio 43210, United States
| | - J. E. Saiers
- School
of the Environment, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut 06411, United States
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Soriano MA, Deziel NC, Saiers JE. Regional Scale Assessment of Shallow Groundwater Vulnerability to Contamination from Unconventional Hydrocarbon Extraction. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2022; 56:12126-12136. [PMID: 35960643 PMCID: PMC9454823 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.2c00470] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/20/2022] [Revised: 07/29/2022] [Accepted: 08/01/2022] [Indexed: 05/19/2023]
Abstract
Concerns over unconventional oil and gas (UOG) development persist, especially in rural communities that rely on shallow groundwater for drinking and other domestic purposes. Given the continued expansion of the industry, regional (vs local scale) models are needed to characterize groundwater contamination risks faced by the increasing proportion of the population residing in areas that accommodate UOG extraction. In this paper, we evaluate groundwater vulnerability to contamination from surface spills and shallow subsurface leakage of UOG wells within a 104,000 km2 region in the Appalachian Basin, northeastern USA. We test a computationally efficient ensemble approach for simulating groundwater flow and contaminant transport processes to quantify vulnerability with high resolution. We also examine metamodels, or machine learning models trained to emulate physically based models, and investigate their spatial transferability. We identify predictors describing proximity to UOG, hydrology, and topography that are important for metamodels to make accurate vulnerability predictions outside their training regions. Using our approach, we estimate that 21,000-30,000 individuals in our study area are dependent on domestic water wells that are vulnerable to contamination from UOG activities. Our novel modeling framework could be used to guide groundwater monitoring, provide information for public health studies, and assess environmental justice issues.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mario A. Soriano
- School
of the Environment, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut 06511, United States
| | - Nicole C. Deziel
- School
of Public Health, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut 06510, United States
| | - James E. Saiers
- School
of the Environment, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut 06511, United States
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Clark CJ, Johnson NP, Soriano M, Warren JL, Sorrentino KM, Kadan-Lottick NS, Saiers JE, Ma X, Deziel NC. Unconventional Oil and Gas Development Exposure and Risk of Childhood Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia: A Case-Control Study in Pennsylvania, 2009-2017. ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH PERSPECTIVES 2022; 130:87001. [PMID: 35975995 PMCID: PMC9383266 DOI: 10.1289/ehp11092] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/11/2022] [Revised: 06/15/2022] [Accepted: 06/29/2022] [Indexed: 05/19/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Unconventional oil and gas development (UOGD) releases chemicals that have been linked to cancer and childhood leukemia. Studies of UOGD exposure and childhood leukemia are extremely limited. OBJECTIVE The objective of this study was to evaluate potential associations between residential proximity to UOGD and risk of acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), the most common form of childhood leukemia, in a large regional sample using UOGD-specific metrics, including a novel metric to represent the water pathway. METHODS We conducted a registry-based case-control study of 405 children ages 2-7 y diagnosed with ALL in Pennsylvania between 2009-2017, and 2,080 controls matched on birth year. We used logistic regression to estimate odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for the association between residential proximity to UOGD (including a new water pathway-specific proximity metric) and ALL in two exposure windows: a primary window (3 months preconception to 1 y prior to diagnosis/reference date) and a perinatal window (preconception to birth). RESULTS Children with at least one UOG well within 2 km of their birth residence during the primary window had 1.98 times the odds of developing ALL in comparison with those with no UOG wells [95% confidence interval (CI): 1.06, 3.69]. Children with at least one vs. no UOG wells within 2 km during the perinatal window had 2.80 times the odds of developing ALL (95% CI: 1.11, 7.05). These relationships were slightly attenuated after adjusting for maternal race and socio-economic status [odds ratio (OR) = 1.74 (95% CI: 0.93, 3.27) and OR = 2.35 (95% CI: 0.93, 5.95)], respectively). The ORs produced by models using the water pathway-specific metric were similar in magnitude to the aggregate metric. DISCUSSION Our study including a novel UOGD metric found UOGD to be a risk factor for childhood ALL. This work adds to mounting evidence of UOGD's impacts on children's health, providing additional support for limiting UOGD near residences. https://doi.org/10.1289/EHP11092.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cassandra J. Clark
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Yale School of Public Health, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
| | - Nicholaus P. Johnson
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Yale School of Public Health, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
- Center for Perinatal, Pediatric and Environmental Epidemiology, Yale University Schools of Public Health and Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
| | - Mario Soriano
- Yale School of the Environment, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
| | - Joshua L. Warren
- Department of Biostatistics, Yale School of Public Health, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
| | - Keli M. Sorrentino
- Center for Perinatal, Pediatric and Environmental Epidemiology, Yale University Schools of Public Health and Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
| | - Nina S. Kadan-Lottick
- Georgetown Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center, Washington, District of Columbia, USA
| | - James E. Saiers
- Yale School of the Environment, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
| | - Xiaomei Ma
- Department of Chronic Disease Epidemiology, Yale School of Public Health, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
| | - Nicole C. Deziel
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Yale School of Public Health, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
- Center for Perinatal, Pediatric and Environmental Epidemiology, Yale University Schools of Public Health and Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
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