This peer reviewed exploratory study of air quality near oil and gas activities and the resulting health impacts is consistent with the findings in Earthworks health surveys done in Pennsylvania, Pavillion, WY and the case studies from Flowback.
Industry will now send their Fracking Joe Camels with their fake science to create doubt and confusion about real science. That’s how they convinced a nation to continue smoking long after sound science had proven that smoking causes health problems.
About Sharon Wilson
Sharon Wilson is considered a leading citizen expert on the impacts of shale oil and gas extraction. She is the go-to person whether it’s top EPA officials from D.C., national and international news networks, or residents facing the shock of eminent domain and the devastating environmental effects of natural gas development in their backyards.
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Interesting piece. Not super ambitious, but I appreciate that the author’s do not over-step. And there’s some good stuff in here.
I find no mention of hydrogen sulfide gas, or carbonyl sulfide, or carbon disulfide. It appears these were not included in the study at all. Again.
The author’s seem to be focused on the hazards of ozone production. Does this make sense to the rest of you? Am I nuts for thinking this is nuts?
The authors discuss some of the limitations of their “grab sample” methodology, and I appreciate this. This was a very very limited air study; and they didn’t try to pretend otherwise.
I was very interested and surprised to read that they detected methylene chloride more than anything else. This is traditional carburetor cleaner, and I don’t remember seeing this compound in any of the earlier canister data from the gas patch (besides trace levels in FWNGAQS).
This highly effective organic solvent, which is heavier than water. has long been recognized as a safer alternative to carbon disulfide for many industrial applications.
Methylene chloride is also known as Dichloromethane, or DCM
The following information is lifted from Wikipedia:
“DCM is the least toxic of the simple chlorohydrocarbons, but it is not without health risks, as its high volatility makes it an acute inhalation hazard.[4][5] DCM is also metabolized by the body to carbon monoxide potentially leading to carbon monoxide poisoning.[6] Acute exposure by inhalation has resulted in optic neuropathy[7] and hepatitis.[8] Prolonged skin contact can result in DCM dissolving some of the fatty tissues in skin, resulting in skin irritation or chemical burns.[9]
It may be carcinogenic, as it has been linked to cancer of the lungs, liver, and pancreas in laboratory animals.[10] DCM crosses the placenta. Fetal toxicity in women who are exposed to it during pregnancy, however, has not been proven.[11] In animal experiments, it was fetotoxic at doses that were maternally toxic but no teratogenic effects were seen.[10]”
I remember looking up the health effects of methylene chloride before. I have seen it in other air tests.
Yes, Measurements of methylene chloride should not be surprising near any petrochem or industrial facility.
Apparently, in this study though, this chemical was the one detected the most often, and at the highest concentrations, if I read that summary correctly. I see this as significant.
Could it be that DCM has replaced CS2 in some of the solvent mixtures employed downhole? I sure don’t know, and I find myself wondering what some of the implications might be if indeed this were the case:
Carbon disulfide isn’t known to cause cancer of the pancreas, lungs and liver like this.
Conversely, methylene chloride isn’t flammable or explosive, nor is it associated with insanity, depression and suicide in humans.
Personally, given the choice, I would choose exposure to methylene chloride. I would wash my hands with it, the way we used to do, if I had to. Just please please keep that CS2 away from me. Please.
“Industry will now send their Fracking Joe Camels with their fake science to create doubt and confusion about real science. ”
set your watch – EID attack parrots are on alert…. incoming blather and talking points in ….3….2…..1
One needs to examine the history of petrochemical plant pollution studies and any reforms that came about because of the findings. These studies, their findings, and changes, if any, to public policy are good clues as to how the fracking studies will be handled by policy makers. I can safely say that the God, Guts, Guns, Energy Independence, and Fear-Uncertainty-Doubt (FUD) coupled with Patriotism will be the underlying theme of any defense mounted by the fracking industry. The sooner we’re on solar, wind, hydro (collectively known as renewables) and practicing conservation, the better.
That and the tobacco. I’m telling you: everything they are doing mirrors the tobacco industry.
My husband, a 45 yo great guy that gave 110 percent every day to a company that loved him. He had been identified as an “employee”. Though he did have a contractors license, he did a specialized acoustic panel system exclusively and for 20 plus years for this same company. They sure changed their attitude after the doctors noted the likely cause of the cancer of his mainstem bronchus, right lung, liver, adrenal glands, bones and brain to be the methylene chloride contained in the sray adhesive he used every day at the job. He started to have cough and pain and drop a lot of pounds the end of October 2009, got diagnosed Jan 2010 and died at 46 years old March 4th 2010. Strange thing, once I filed a workers comp death claim, the company (and the ovner of the company whom actually did my husbands eulogy at his funeral) he had been loyal to for over 20 years dismissed the determination of the MC as being a possible cancer agent, despite multitudes of osha, epa, state and national info, and suddenly identified him as a sub contractor for whom they had no responsibility… I have been fighting for his rights for over 2 years. osha has strict regulations re MC use and limits and monitoring that he had never been informed of. The state of california actually banned the use of MC back in the 90’s! He had been a light smoker and never had been informed that smokers are at higher risk of the effects of MC. Before you use anything containing methylene chloride, read the multitudes of references on IT AS A OCCUPATIONAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL HAZARD!
I am so sorry to hear this story. Your husband sounds like he was such a fine man and he died way too young.
I see methylene chloride on air tests in areas of oil & gas development all the time. Just this week I received another test with methylene chloride. The testing was done by a woman who went to visit her father because he was dying of cancer. His wife has cancer and many of his neighbors do also.
Also, if your husband only worked for that one company then it is illegal for them to call him a contractor. That’s the law. You need a good attorney.