Stanford professor explains Barnett Shale air pollution and health risks

From the comments:

MYtoeSPACEpillow has left a new comment on your post “I hear Arlington Barnett Shale gas is dry these da…”:

I asked Mark Z. Jacobson, Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering at Stanford University what was coming out of the UTArlington smokestack. After he explained the ozone created by gas drilling and how Methane and Carbon Dioxide affects our air quality, he said “….Other chemicals are probably emitted in the plume in your videotape. Those will likely have direct health effects.

Industries will claim that pollutant concentrations in the outdoor air are lower than the federal standard for the pollutants. This may or may not be correct, but it is important to note that people are subject to health risk, including death, below the federal standard.

For example, the federal 8-hour standard for ozone is 75 ppbv now. However, epa studies clearly show increased deaths due to ozone start at around 35 ppbv. For particulate matter, there is no low threshold for health problems (e.g., they start above zero micrograms per cubic meter of air).

The bottom line is that all air pollution is bad and the only way to ensure a healthy environment for you and your family is to try to press your county to eliminate it as much as possible.”

Sincerely,
Mark Jacoson

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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