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Caron-Beaudoin É, Subramanian A, Daley C, Lakshmanan S, Whitworth KW. Estimation of exposure to particulate matter in pregnant individuals living in an area of unconventional oil and gas operations: Findings from the EXPERIVA study. J Toxicol Environ Health A 2023; 86:383-396. [PMID: 37154018 DOI: 10.1080/15287394.2023.2208594] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/10/2023]
Abstract
Northeastern British Columbia (Canada) is an area of oil and gas exploitation, which may result in release of fine (PM2.5) and inhalable (PM10) particulate matter. The aims of this study were to: 1) apply extrapolation methods to estimate exposure to PM2.5 and PM10 concentrations among EXPERIVA (Exposures in the Peace River Valley study) participants using air quality data archives; and 2) conduct exploratory analyses to investigate correlation between PM exposure and metrics of oil and gas wells density, proximity, and activity. Gestational exposure to PM2.5 and PM10 of the EXPERIVA participants (n = 85) was estimated by averaging the concentrations measured at the closest or three closest air monitoring stations during the pregnancy period. Drilling metrics were calculated based upon the density and proximity of conventional and unconventional oil and gas wells to each participant's residence. Phase-specific metrics were determined for unconventional wells. The correlations (ρ) between exposure to PM2.5 and PM10 and metrics of well density/proximity were determined using Spearman's rank correlation test. Estimated PM ambient air concentrations ranged between 4.73 to 12.13 µg/m3 for PM2.5 and 7.14 to 26.61 µg/m3 for PM10. Conventional wells metrics were more strongly correlated with PM10 estimations (ρ between 0.28 and 0.79). Unconventional wells metrics for all phases were positively correlated with PM2.5 estimations (ρ between 0.23 and 0.55). These results provide evidence of a correlation between density and proximity of oil and gas wells and estimated PM exposure in the EXPERIVA participants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Élyse Caron-Beaudoin
- Department of Health and Society, University of Toronto Scarborough, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Department of Physical and Environmental Sciences, University of Toronto Scarborough, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Centre for Clinical Epidemiology and Evaluation, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Amrita Subramanian
- Department of Health and Society, University of Toronto Scarborough, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Coreen Daley
- Department of Physical and Environmental Sciences, University of Toronto Scarborough, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Siddharthan Lakshmanan
- Department of Health and Society, University of Toronto Scarborough, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Kristina W Whitworth
- Department of Medicine, Section of Epidemiology and Population Sciences, Center for Precision Environmental Health, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
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2
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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] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [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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3
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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. Environ Sci Technol 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] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [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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4
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Soriano MA, Deziel NC, Saiers JE. Regional Scale Assessment of Shallow Groundwater Vulnerability to Contamination from Unconventional Hydrocarbon Extraction. Environ Sci Technol 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] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [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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Li Y, Thelemaque NA, Siegel HG, Clark CJ, Ryan EC, Brenneis RJ, Gutchess KM, Soriano MA, Xiong B, Deziel NC, Saiers JE, Plata DL. Groundwater Methane in Northeastern Pennsylvania Attributable to Thermogenic Sources and Hydrogeomorphologic Migration Pathways. Environ Sci Technol 2021; 55:16413-16422. [PMID: 34874708 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.1c05272] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/12/2023]
Abstract
Conflicting evidence exists as to whether or not unconventional oil and gas (UOG) development has enhanced methane transport into groundwater aquifers over the past 15 years. In this study, recent groundwater samples were collected from 90 domestic wells and 4 springs in Northeastern Pennsylvania located above the Marcellus Shale after more than a decade of UOG development. No statistically significant correlations were observed between the groundwater methane level and various UOG geospatial metrics, including proximity to UOG wells and well violations, as well as the number of UOG wells and violations within particular radii. The δ13C and methane-to-higher chain hydrocarbon signatures suggested that the elevated methane levels were not attributable to UOG development nor could they be explained by using simple biogenic-thermogenic end-member mixing models. Instead, groundwater methane levels were significantly correlated with geochemical water type and topographical location. Comparing a subset of contemporary methane measurements to their co-located pre-drilling records (n = 64 at 49 distinct locations) did not indicate systematic increases in methane concentration but did reveal several cases of elevated concentration (n = 12) across a spectrum of topographies. Multiple lines of evidence suggested that the high-concentration groundwater methane could have originated from shallow thermogenic methane that migrated upward into groundwater aquifers with Appalachian Basin brine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yunpo Li
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Parsons Laboratory, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 15 Vassar Street, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, United States
| | - Nathalie A Thelemaque
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Parsons Laboratory, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 15 Vassar Street, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, United States
- Civil and Environmental Engineering, The University of Washington, 3760 East Stevens Way Northeast, Seattle, Washington 98195, United States
| | - Helen G Siegel
- The School of the Environment, Yale University, 195 Prospect Street, New Haven, Connecticut 06511, United States
| | - Cassandra J Clark
- Yale School of Public Health, Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Yale University, 60 College Street, New Haven, Connecticut 06512, United States
| | - Emma C Ryan
- Yale School of Public Health, Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Yale University, 60 College Street, New Haven, Connecticut 06512, United States
- Department of Public Health and Community Medicine, Tufts University, 136 Harrison Avenue, Boston, Massachusetts 02111, United States
| | - Rebecca J Brenneis
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Parsons Laboratory, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 15 Vassar Street, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, United States
| | - Kristina M Gutchess
- The School of the Environment, Yale University, 195 Prospect Street, New Haven, Connecticut 06511, United States
| | - Mario A Soriano
- The School of the Environment, Yale University, 195 Prospect Street, New Haven, Connecticut 06511, United States
| | - Boya Xiong
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Parsons Laboratory, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 15 Vassar Street, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, United States
- Department of Civil, Environmental and Geo-Engineering, University of Minnesota, 500 Pillsbury Dr. SE, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55455, United States
| | - Nicole C Deziel
- Yale School of Public Health, Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Yale University, 60 College Street, New Haven, Connecticut 06512, United States
| | - James E Saiers
- The School of the Environment, Yale University, 195 Prospect Street, New Haven, Connecticut 06511, United States
| | - Desiree L Plata
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Parsons Laboratory, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 15 Vassar Street, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, United States
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6
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Campa MF, Wolfe AK, Techtmann SM, Harik AM, Hazen TC. Unconventional Oil and Gas Energy Systems: An Unidentified Hotspot of Antimicrobial Resistance? Front Microbiol 2019; 10:2392. [PMID: 31681244 PMCID: PMC6813720 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2019.02392] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/15/2019] [Accepted: 10/02/2019] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Biocides used in unconventional oil and gas (UOG) practices, such as hydraulic fracturing, control microbial growth. Unwanted microbial growth can cause gas souring, pipeline clogging, and microbial-induced corrosion of equipment and transportation pipes. However, optimizing biocide use has not been a priority. Moreover, biocide efficacy has been questioned because microbial surveys show an active microbial community in hydraulic fracturing produced and flowback water. Hydraulic fracturing produced and flowback water increases risks to surface aquifers and rivers/lakes near the UOG operations compared with conventional oil and gas operations. While some biocides and biocide degradation products have been highlighted as chemicals of concern because of their toxicity to humans and the environment, the selective antimicrobial pressure they cause has not been considered seriously. This perspective article aims to promote research to determine if antimicrobial pressure in these systems is cause for concern. UOG practices could potentially create antimicrobial resistance hotspots under-appreciated in the literature, practice, and regulation arena, hotspots that should not be ignored. The article is distinctive in discussing antimicrobial resistance risks associated with UOG biocides from a biological risk, not a chemical toxicology, perspective. We outline potential risks and highlight important knowledge gaps that need to be addressed to properly incorporate antimicrobial resistance emergence and selection into UOG environmental and health risk assessments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Fernanda Campa
- Bredesen Center for Interdisciplinary Research and Graduate Education, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Knoxville, TN, United States.,Biosciences Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, TN, United States.,Institute for a Secure and Sustainable Environment, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN, United States
| | - Amy K Wolfe
- Environmental Science Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, TN, United States
| | - Stephen M Techtmann
- Department of Biological Sciences, Michigan Technological University, Houghton, MI, United States
| | - Ann-Marie Harik
- Departments of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Earth and Planetary Sciences, Microbiology, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Knoxville, TN, United States
| | - Terry C Hazen
- Bredesen Center for Interdisciplinary Research and Graduate Education, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Knoxville, TN, United States.,Biosciences Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, TN, United States.,Institute for a Secure and Sustainable Environment, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN, United States.,Departments of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Earth and Planetary Sciences, Microbiology, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Knoxville, TN, United States
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Campa MF, Techtmann SM, Ladd MP, Yan J, Patterson M, Garcia de Matos Amaral A, Carter KE, Ulrich N, Grant CJ, Hettich RL, Lamendella R, Hazen TC. Surface Water Microbial Community Response to the Biocide 2,2-Dibromo-3-Nitrilopropionamide, Used in Unconventional Oil and Gas Extraction. Appl Environ Microbiol 2019; 85:e01336-19. [PMID: 31444200 DOI: 10.1128/AEM.01336-19] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/12/2019] [Accepted: 08/15/2019] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Unconventional oil and gas activity can affect pH, total organic carbon, and microbial communities in surface water, altering their ability to respond to new environmental and/or anthropogenic perturbations. These findings demonstrate that 2,2-dibromo-3-nitrilopropionamide (DBNPA), a common hydraulic fracturing (HF) biocide, affects microbial communities differently as a consequence of past HF exposure, persisting longer in HF-impacted (HF+) waters. These findings also demonstrate that DBNPA has low efficacy in environmental microbial communities regardless of HF impact. These findings are of interest, as understanding microbial responses is key for formulating remediation strategies in unconventional oil and gas (UOG)-impacted environments. Moreover, some DBNPA degradation by-products are even more toxic and recalcitrant than DBNPA itself, and this work identifies novel brominated degradation by-products formed. Production of unconventional oil and gas continues to rise, but the effects of high-density hydraulic fracturing (HF) activity near aquatic ecosystems are not fully understood. A commonly used biocide in HF, 2,2-dibromo-3-nitrilopropionamide (DBNPA), was studied in microcosms of HF-impacted (HF+) versus HF-unimpacted (HF−) surface water streams to (i) compare the microbial community response, (ii) investigate DBNPA degradation products based on past HF exposure, and (iii) compare the microbial community response differences and similarities between the HF biocides DBNPA and glutaraldehyde. The microbial community responded to DBNPA differently in HF-impacted versus HF-unimpacted microcosms in terms of the number of 16S rRNA gene copies quantified, alpha and beta diversity, and differential abundance analyses of microbial community composition through time. The differences in microbial community changes affected degradation dynamics. HF-impacted microbial communities were more sensitive to DBNPA, causing the biocide and by-products of the degradation to persist for longer than in HF-unimpacted microcosms. A total of 17 DBNPA by-products were detected, many of them not widely known as DBNPA by-products. Many of the brominated by-products detected that are believed to be uncharacterized may pose environmental and health impacts. Similar taxa were able to tolerate glutaraldehyde and DBNPA; however, DBNPA was not as effective for microbial control, as indicated by a smaller overall decrease of 16S rRNA gene copies/ml after exposure to the biocide, and a more diverse set of taxa was able to tolerate it. These findings suggest that past HF activity in streams can affect the microbial community response to environmental perturbation such as that caused by the biocide DBNPA. IMPORTANCE Unconventional oil and gas activity can affect pH, total organic carbon, and microbial communities in surface water, altering their ability to respond to new environmental and/or anthropogenic perturbations. These findings demonstrate that 2,2-dibromo-3-nitrilopropionamide (DBNPA), a common hydraulic fracturing (HF) biocide, affects microbial communities differently as a consequence of past HF exposure, persisting longer in HF-impacted (HF+) waters. These findings also demonstrate that DBNPA has low efficacy in environmental microbial communities regardless of HF impact. These findings are of interest, as understanding microbial responses is key for formulating remediation strategies in unconventional oil and gas (UOG)-impacted environments. Moreover, some DBNPA degradation by-products are even more toxic and recalcitrant than DBNPA itself, and this work identifies novel brominated degradation by-products formed.
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Bamber AM, Hasanali SH, Nair AS, Watkins SM, Vigil DI, Van Dyke M, McMullin TS, Richardson K. A Systematic Review of the Epidemiologic Literature Assessing Health Outcomes in Populations Living near Oil and Natural Gas Operations: Study Quality and Future Recommendations. Int J Environ Res Public Health 2019; 16:E2123. [PMID: 31208070 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph16122123] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/21/2019] [Revised: 06/06/2019] [Accepted: 06/12/2019] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
A systematic method was used to review the existing epidemiologic literature and determine the state of the scientific evidence for potential adverse health outcomes in populations living near oil and natural gas (ONG) operations in the United States. The review utilized adapted systematic review frameworks from the medical and environmental health fields, such as Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development and Evaluations (GRADE), the Navigation Guide, and guidance from the National Toxicology Program’s Office of Health Assessment and Translation (OHAT). The review included 20 epidemiologic studies, with 32 different health outcomes. Studies of populations living near ONG operations provide limited evidence (modest scientific findings that support the outcome, but with significant limitations) of harmful health effects including asthma exacerbations and various self-reported symptoms. Study quality has improved over time and the highest rated studies within this assessment have primarily focused on birth outcomes. Additional high-quality studies are needed to confirm or dispute these correlations.
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Balise VD, Cornelius-Green JN, Kassotis CD, Rector RS, Thyfault JP, Nagel SC. Preconceptional, Gestational, and Lactational Exposure to an Unconventional Oil and Gas Chemical Mixture Alters Energy Expenditure in Adult Female Mice. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) 2019; 10:323. [PMID: 31191452 PMCID: PMC6540741 DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2019.00323] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/02/2018] [Accepted: 05/02/2019] [Indexed: 01/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Previous studies conducted in our laboratory have found altered adult health outcomes in animals with prenatal exposure to environmentally relevant levels of unconventional oil and gas (UOG) chemicals with endocrine-disrupting activity. This study aimed to examine potential metabolic health outcomes following a preconception, prenatal and postnatal exposure to a mixture of 23 UOG chemicals. Prior to mating and from gestation day 1 to postnatal day 21, C57BL/6J mice were developmentally exposed to a laboratory-created mixture of 23 UOG chemicals in maternal drinking water. Body composition, spontaneous activity, energy expenditure, and glucose tolerance were evaluated in 7-month-old female offspring. Neither body weight nor body composition differed in 7-month female mice. However, females exposed to 1.5 and 150 μg/kg/day UOG mix had lower total and resting energy expenditure within the dark cycle. In the light cycle, the 1,500 μg//kg/day group had lower total energy expenditure and the 1.5 μg/kg/day group had lower resting energy expenditure. Females exposed to the 150 μg/kg/day group had lower spontaneous activity in the dark cycle, and females exposed to the 1,500 μg/kg/day group had lower activity in the light cycle. This study reports for the first time that developmental exposure to a mixture of 23 UOG chemicals alters energy expenditure and spontaneous activity in adult female mice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Victoria D. Balise
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Women's Health, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, United States
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, United States
| | - Jennifer N. Cornelius-Green
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Women's Health, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, United States
| | | | - R. Scott Rector
- Department of Nutrition and Health Exercise Physiology, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, United States
- Medicine-Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, United States
- Research Service, Harry S Truman Memorial Veterans Medical Center, Columbia, MO, United States
| | - John P. Thyfault
- Department of Molecular and Integrative Physiology, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, KS, United States
- Kansas City VA Medical Center, Research Service, Kansas City, MO, United States
| | - Susan C. Nagel
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Women's Health, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, United States
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, United States
- *Correspondence: Susan C. Nagel
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Balise VD, Cornelius-Green JN, Parmenter B, Baxter S, Kassotis CD, Rector RS, Thyfault JP, Paterlini S, Palanza P, Ruiz D, Sargis R, Nagel SC. Developmental Exposure to a Mixture of Unconventional Oil and Gas Chemicals Increased Risk-Taking Behavior, Activity and Energy Expenditure in Aged Female Mice After a Metabolic Challenge. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) 2019; 10:460. [PMID: 31402896 PMCID: PMC6669236 DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2019.00460] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/08/2018] [Accepted: 06/25/2019] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Chemicals used in unconventional oil and gas (UOG) operations can act as endocrine disrupting chemicals and metabolic disruptors. Our lab has reported altered energy expenditure and activity in C57BL/6J mice that were preconceptionally, gestationally, and lactationally exposed via maternal drinking water to a laboratory-created mixture of 23 UOG chemicals from gestational day 1 to postnatal day 21 in 7-month-old female mice with no change in body composition. We hypothesized that allowing the mice to age and exposing them to a high fat, high sugar diet might reveal underlying changes in energy balance. To investigate whether aging and metabolic challenge would exacerbate this phenotype, these mice were aged to 12 months and given a high fat, high sugar diet (HFHSD) challenge. The short 3-day HFHSD challenge increased body weight and fasting blood glucose in all mice. Developmental exposure to the 23 UOG mixture was associated with increased activity and non-resting energy expenditure in the light cycle, increased exploratory behavior in the elevated plus maze test, and decreased sleep in 12 month female mice. Each of these effects was seen in the light cycle when mice are normally less active. Further studies are needed to better understand the behavioral changes observed after developmental exposure to UOG chemicals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Victoria D. Balise
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Women's Health, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, United States
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, United States
| | - Jennifer N. Cornelius-Green
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Women's Health, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, United States
| | - Brittany Parmenter
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Women's Health, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, United States
| | - Sierra Baxter
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Women's Health, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, United States
| | | | - R. Scott Rector
- Department of Nutrition and Health Exercise Physiology, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, United States
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, School of Medicine, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, United States
- Research Service, Harry S. Truman Memorial Veterans Medical Center, Columbia, MO, United States
| | - John P. Thyfault
- Department of Molecular and Integrative Physiology, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, KS, United States
- Kansas City VA Medical Center, Research Service, Kansas City, MO, United States
| | - Silvia Paterlini
- Unit of Neuroscience, Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Parma, Parma, Italy
| | - Paola Palanza
- Unit of Neuroscience, Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Parma, Parma, Italy
| | - Daniel Ruiz
- Department of Medicine, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, United States
| | - Robert Sargis
- Department of Medicine, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, United States
| | - Susan C. Nagel
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Women's Health, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, United States
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, United States
- *Correspondence: Susan C. Nagel
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Boudet HS, Zanocco CM, Howe PD, Clarke CE. The Effect of Geographic Proximity to Unconventional Oil and Gas Development on Public Support for Hydraulic Fracturing. Risk Anal 2018; 38:1871-1890. [PMID: 29637576 DOI: 10.1111/risa.12989] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2017] [Revised: 02/08/2018] [Accepted: 02/08/2018] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
With the rapid growth of unconventional oil and natural gas development transforming the U.S. economic and physical landscape, social scientists have increasingly explored the spatial dynamics of public support for this issue-that is, whether people closer to unconventional oil and gas development are more supportive or more opposed. While theoretical frameworks like construal-level theory and the "Not in My Backyard" (or NIMBY) moniker provide insight into these spatial dynamics, case studies in specific locations experiencing energy development reveal substantial variation in community responses. Larger-scale studies exploring the link between proximity and support have been hampered by data quality and availability. We draw on a unique data set that includes geo-coded data from national surveys (nine waves; n = 19,098) and high-resolution well location data to explore the relationship between proximity and both familiarity with and support for hydraulic fracturing. We use two different measures of proximity-respondent distance to the nearest well and the density of wells within a certain radius of the respondent's location. We find that both types of proximity to new development are linked to more familiarity with hydraulic fracturing, even after controlling for various individual and contextual factors, but only distance-based proximity is linked to more support for the practice. When significant, these relationships are similar to or exceed the effects of race, income, gender, and age. We discuss the implications of these findings for effective risk communication as well as the importance of incorporating spatial analysis into public opinion research on perceptions of energy development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hilary S Boudet
- Department of Sociology, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR, USA
- School of Public Policy, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR, USA
| | - Chad M Zanocco
- School of Public Policy, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR, USA
| | - Peter D Howe
- Department of Environment & Society, Quinney College of Natural Resources, Utah State University, Logan, UT, USA
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McMullin TS, Bamber AM, Bon D, Vigil DI, Van Dyke M. Exposures and Health Risks from Volatile Organic Compounds in Communities Located near Oil and Gas Exploration and Production Activities in Colorado (U.S.A.). Int J Environ Res Public Health 2018; 15:ijerph15071500. [PMID: 30012994 PMCID: PMC6069077 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph15071500] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2018] [Revised: 06/29/2018] [Accepted: 07/07/2018] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
The study objective was to use a preliminary risk based framework to evaluate the sufficiency of existing air data to answer an important public health question in Colorado: Do volatile organic compounds (VOCs) emitted into the air from oil and gas (OG) operations result in exposures to Coloradoans living at or greater than current state setback distances (500 feet) from OG operations at levels that may be harmful to their health? We identified 56 VOCs emitted from OG operations in Colorado and compiled 47 existing air monitoring datasets that measured these VOCs in 34 locations across OG regions. From these data, we estimated acute and chronic exposures and compared these exposures to health guideline levels using maximum and mean air concentrations. Acute and chronic non-cancer hazard quotients were below one for all individual VOCs. Hazard indices combining exposures for all VOCs were slightly above one. Lifetime excess cancer risk estimates for benzene were between 1.0 × 10−5–3.6 × 10−5 and ethylbenzene was 7.3 × 10−6. This evaluation identified a small sub-set of VOCs, including benzene and n-nonane, which should be prioritized for additional exposure characterization in site-specific studies that collect comprehensive time-series measurements of community scale exposures to better assess community exposures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tami S McMullin
- Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment, 4300 Cherry Creek Drive S, Denver, CO 80246, USA.
| | - Alison M Bamber
- Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment, 4300 Cherry Creek Drive S, Denver, CO 80246, USA.
| | - Daniel Bon
- Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment, 4300 Cherry Creek Drive S, Denver, CO 80246, USA.
| | - Daniel I Vigil
- Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment, 4300 Cherry Creek Drive S, Denver, CO 80246, USA.
| | - Michael Van Dyke
- Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment, 4300 Cherry Creek Drive S, Denver, CO 80246, USA.
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13
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Mumford AC, Akob DM, Klinges JG, Cozzarelli IM. Common Hydraulic Fracturing Fluid Additives Alter the Structure and Function of Anaerobic Microbial Communities. Appl Environ Microbiol 2018; 84:e02729-17. [PMID: 29453259 DOI: 10.1128/AEM.02729-17] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2017] [Accepted: 02/08/2018] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
The development of unconventional oil and gas (UOG) resources results in the production of large volumes of wastewater containing a complex mixture of hydraulic fracturing chemical additives and components from the formation. The release of these wastewaters into the environment poses potential risks that are poorly understood. Microbial communities in stream sediments form the base of the food chain and may serve as sentinels for changes in stream health. Iron-reducing organisms have been shown to play a role in the biodegradation of a wide range of organic compounds, and so to evaluate their response to UOG wastewater, we enriched anaerobic microbial communities from sediments collected upstream (background) and downstream (impacted) of an UOG wastewater injection disposal facility in the presence of hydraulic fracturing fluid (HFF) additives: guar gum, ethylene glycol, and two biocides, 2,2-dibromo-3-nitrilopropionamide (DBNPA) and bronopol (C3H6BrNO4). Iron reduction was significantly inhibited early in the incubations with the addition of biocides, whereas amendment with guar gum and ethylene glycol stimulated iron reduction relative to levels in the unamended controls. Changes in the microbial community structure were observed across all treatments, indicating the potential for even small amounts of UOG wastewater components to influence natural microbial processes. The microbial community structure differed between enrichments with background and impacted sediments, suggesting that impacted sediments may have been preconditioned by exposure to wastewater. These experiments demonstrated the potential for biocides to significantly decrease iron reduction rates immediately following a spill and demonstrated how microbial communities previously exposed to UOG wastewater may be more resilient to additional spills.IMPORTANCE Organic components of UOG wastewater can alter microbial communities and biogeochemical processes, which could alter the rates of essential natural attenuation processes. These findings provide new insights into microbial responses following a release of UOG wastewaters and are critical for identifying strategies for the remediation and natural attenuation of impacted environments.
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Ann Glass Geltman E, LeClair N. Variance in State Protection from Exposure to NORM and TENORM Wastes Generated During Unconventional Oil and Gas Operations: Where We Are and Where We Need to Go. New Solut 2018; 28:240-261. [PMID: 29409383 DOI: 10.1177/1048291118755387] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Radioactive materials for the medical, technological, and industrial sectors have been effectively regulated in the United States since as early as 1962. The steady increase in the exploration and production of shale gas in recent years has led to concerns about exposures to Naturally Occurring Radioactive Materials (NORM) and Technologically Enhanced Naturally Occurring Radioactive Materials (TENORM) in oil and gas waste streams. This study applied policy surveillance methods to conduct a cross-sectional fifty-state survey of law and regulations of NORM and TENORM waste from oil and gas operations. Results indicated that seventeen states drafted express regulations to reduce exposure to oil and gas NORM and TENORM waste. States with active oil and gas drilling that lack regulations controlling exposure to NORM and TENORM may leave the public and workers susceptible to adverse health effects from radiation. The study concludes with recommendations in regard to regulating oil and gas NORM and TENORM waste.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Nichole LeClair
- 1 CUNY Graduate School of Public Health & Health Policy, New York, NY, USA
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15
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Esterhuyse S, Sokolic F, Redelinghuys N, Avenant M, Kijko A, Glazewski J, Plit L, Kemp M, Smit A, Vos AT, von Maltitz MJ. Vulnerability mapping as a tool to manage the environmental impacts of oil and gas extraction. R Soc Open Sci 2017; 4:171044. [PMID: 29291094 PMCID: PMC5717668 DOI: 10.1098/rsos.171044] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2017] [Accepted: 10/25/2017] [Indexed: 05/30/2023]
Abstract
Various biophysical and socio-economic impacts may be associated with unconventional oil and gas (UOG) extraction. A vulnerability map may assist governments during environmental assessments, spatial planning and the regulation of UOG extraction, as well as decision-making around UOG extraction in fragile areas. A regional interactive vulnerability map was developed for UOG extraction in South Africa. This map covers groundwater, surface water, vegetation, socio-economics and seismicity as mapping themes, based on impacts that may emanate from UOG extraction. The mapping themes were developed using a normative approach, where expert input during the identification and classification of vulnerability indicators may increase the acceptability of the resultant map. This article describes the development of the interactive vulnerability map for South Africa, where UOG extraction is not yet allowed and where regulations are still being developed to manage this activity. The importance and policy implications of using vulnerability maps for managing UOG extraction impacts in countries where UOG extraction is planned are highlighted in this article.
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Affiliation(s)
- Surina Esterhuyse
- Centre for Environmental Management, University of the Free State, PO Box 339, Bloemfontein, South Africa
| | - Frank Sokolic
- Centre for Environmental Management, University of the Free State, PO Box 339, Bloemfontein, South Africa
| | - Nola Redelinghuys
- Department of Sociology, University of the Free State, PO Box 339, Bloemfontein, South Africa
| | - Marinda Avenant
- Centre for Environmental Management, University of the Free State, PO Box 339, Bloemfontein, South Africa
| | - Andrzej Kijko
- Department of Geology, University of Pretoria Natural Hazard Centre, Africa, University of Pretoria, Private Bag X20, Hatfield, Pretoria 0028, South Africa
| | - Jan Glazewski
- Institute of Marine and Environmental Law, University of Cape Town, Private Bag X3, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Lisa Plit
- Institute of Marine and Environmental Law, University of Cape Town, Private Bag X3, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Marthie Kemp
- Centre for Environmental Management, University of the Free State, PO Box 339, Bloemfontein, South Africa
| | - Ansie Smit
- Department of Geology, University of Pretoria Natural Hazard Centre, Africa, University of Pretoria, Private Bag X20, Hatfield, Pretoria 0028, South Africa
| | - A. Tascha Vos
- Centre for Environmental Management, University of the Free State, PO Box 339, Bloemfontein, South Africa
| | - Michael J. von Maltitz
- Department of Mathematical Statistics and Actuarial Science, University of the Free State, PO Box 339, Bloemfontein, South Africa
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Abstract
This article describes Dr Theo Colborn's legacy of inspiring complementary and synergistic environmental health research and advocacy. Colborn, a founder of endocrine disruption research, also stimulated study of hydraulic fracturing (fracking). In 2014, the United States led the world in oil and gas production, with fifteen million Americans living within one mile of an oil or gas well. Colborn pioneered efforts to understand and control the impacts of this sea change in energy production. In 2005, her research organization The Endocrine Disruption Exchange (TEDX) developed a database of chemicals used in natural gas extraction and their health effects. This database stimulated novel scientific and social scientific research and informed advocacy by (1) connecting communities' diverse health impacts to chemicals used in natural gas development, (2) inspiring social science research on open-source software and hardware for citizen science, and (3) posing new scientific questions about the endocrine-disrupting properties of fracking chemicals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sara Wylie
- 1 Northeastern University, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Kim Schultz
- 2 The Endocrine Disruption Exchange, Paonia, CO, USA
| | | | - Chris Kassotis
- 4 Nicholas School of the Environment, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Susan Nagel
- 5 University of Missouri System, Columbia, MO, USA
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Sherwood OA, Rogers JD, Lackey G, Burke TL, Osborn SG, Ryan JN. Groundwater methane in relation to oil and gas development and shallow coal seams in the Denver-Julesburg Basin of Colorado. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2016; 113:8391-6. [PMID: 27402747 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1523267113] [Citation(s) in RCA: 65] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Unconventional oil and gas development has generated intense public concerns about potential impacts to groundwater quality. Specific pathways of contamination have been identified; however, overall rates of contamination remain ambiguous. We used an archive of geochemical data collected from 1988 to 2014 to determine the sources and occurrence of groundwater methane in the Denver-Julesburg Basin of northeastern Colorado. This 60,000-km(2) region has a 60-y-long history of hydraulic fracturing, with horizontal drilling and high-volume hydraulic fracturing beginning in 2010. Of 924 sampled water wells in the basin, dissolved methane was detected in 593 wells at depths of 20-190 m. Based on carbon and hydrogen stable isotopes and gas molecular ratios, most of this methane was microbially generated, likely within shallow coal seams. A total of 42 water wells contained thermogenic stray gas originating from underlying oil and gas producing formations. Inadequate surface casing and leaks in production casing and wellhead seals in older, vertical oil and gas wells were identified as stray gas migration pathways. The rate of oil and gas wellbore failure was estimated as 0.06% of the 54,000 oil and gas wells in the basin (lower estimate) to 0.15% of the 20,700 wells in the area where stray gas contamination occurred (upper estimate) and has remained steady at about two cases per year since 2001. These results show that wellbore barrier failure, not high-volume hydraulic fracturing in horizontal wells, is the main cause of thermogenic stray gas migration in this oil- and gas-producing basin.
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Gallegos TJ, Varela BA, Haines SS, Engle MA. Hydraulic fracturing water use variability in the United States and potential environmental implications. Water Resour Res 2015; 51:5839-5845. [PMID: 26937056 PMCID: PMC4758395 DOI: 10.1002/2015wr017278] [Citation(s) in RCA: 56] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2015] [Accepted: 06/12/2015] [Indexed: 05/06/2023]
Abstract
A U.S. map of water volumes used to hydraulically fracture oil and gas wells, 2011-2014Hydraulic fracturing water volumes differ regionally across the U.S.Discussion of variation in water use and potential environmental implications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tanya J Gallegos
- U.S. Geological Survey, Eastern Energy Resources Science Center Reston Virginia USA
| | - Brian A Varela
- U.S. Geological Survey, Central Energy Resources Science Center Denver Colorado USA
| | - Seth S Haines
- U.S. Geological Survey, Central Energy Resources Science Center Denver Colorado USA
| | - Mark A Engle
- U.S. Geological Survey, Eastern Energy Resources Science Center Reston Virginia USA; Department of Geological Sciences University of Texas at El Paso El Paso Texas USA
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