Here are the numbers:
TCEQ Effects Screening Level (ESL) for HCHO:
- Acute Short-Term (1 hr): 12 ppb
- Chronic (1 yr): 4.5 ppb (cancer endpoint)
Max 2 hr urban roadside concentrations observed in U.S. is
- 17 ppb (HEI, 2007) MAXIMUM from cars
Max 1 hr HCHO in Houston Ship Channel:
- 52 ppb
Barnett Shale levels of formaldehyde:
- 69 ppb
- 81 ppb
- 100 ppb
- 114 ppb
- 127 ppb
BSEEC and Titan Engineering hid formaldehyde findings in Barnett Shale air study
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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Thanks for posting this. The ESL system begins ands ends with the wrong ideas about public health, but it's always useful to point out when they're not playing by their own rules. Another reason why this blog is a true public service. i hope the D-T and/or DMN pick this up and run with it.
where did you get the numbers from (do you have a link)?
If one assumes that the ESL's are a proper threshold, then those measurements a bit unpleasant.
Anyway the source of the numbers would be useful to me.
There is a link in the document to the study and the previous posting has all the information with links.
There is a link in the document to the study and the previous posting has all the information with links.
Is that your dogs real poop?
It's bullshit
From EPA website:
Levels in Homes
Average concentrations in older homes without UFFI are generally well below 0.1 (ppm) or 100 (ppb). In homes with significant amounts of new pressed wood products, levels can be greater than 0.3 ppm or 300 (ppb).
Hmmm I guess we better stay outside next to a NG compressor if you live in a trailer house.
Oh, you're absolutely right! Because there are high levels of formaldehyde in some older homes, we should just go ahead and let the natural gas industry pump formaldehyde at us all day every day. I mean, if those poor folks in the formaldehyde homes get nasal cancer we should all get it, right?
Where do you people get your logic?
I just though it was a strange statement by the EPA. Thanks though!
Why aren't you blogging to stop trailer house sales since the public well being is your sole concern?
Well, sure. You go right ahead and stay outside by those gas wells. Be sure to have lots of Kleenex and ice because nosebleeds are common when you live in the gas patch. Now we know why.
As Dr. Kester pointed out last night, indoor air concentrations, such as in a mobile home, are substantially different from ambient concentrations. To get levels this high in ambient is alarming because of the dilution factor. What you really don't want is a mobile home NEXT to a gas well. Then you're totally screwed.
Gee, I wonder why formaldehyde is being phased out of wood products worldwide. In fact the wood products industry is quick to point out now that their products are formaldehyde free. Guess that won't ever happen coming from you boys.
Thank you Barnett Shale for yet another poison.
I’m familiar with the EPA numbers ref. formaldehyde in homes. Am wondering where these numbers came from? Bet they were measured in homes by a contractor (many contractors are pollution friendly). What was the basis for making location choices?—it could be that locations were contaminated by ambient air which was contaminated over time with formaldehyde—which got into homes and was measured there—and said it came from the homes! Was the nearby ambient air measured, over time, for formaldehyde? Could a bunch of the home formaldehyde have come from natural gas combustion sources—including heating sources in manufacturing plants for mobile homes?? Background would be interesting. Comments please!
So your telling me that concentration means nothing. That makes sense. I guess. Oh i am alarmed, o&g production is responsible for everything bad in this world. It's a proven fact. I hope that windmill thing takes off soon or we all will be dead so I guess it makes no difference.
Of course concentration IS important–as is the importance of the source!! I'm tell you that if you burn natural gas, you're gonna get some formaldehyde!!
"Windmill thing?" Well that was certainly a clever rebuttal.
When may we expect you boys to announce your PR campaign to make your products formaldehyde free? Could they also be benzene free, trimethylbenzene free, ethylbenzene free, toluene free, xylene free, carbon disulfide free and all other reduced sulfur compounds, hydrogen sulfide free…
Oh I am tired now. There are so many compounds to list.
Actually, Denton gets 40% of its electricity from wind in Montague County.
How true Anonomous 8:40PM–if you're gonna clean up natural gas drilling, production, processing, and burning, then they must get a whole bunch of crap out of the CH4, including the associated NOISE, TRAFFIC, ETC!
With all the information that is (thankfully) pouring out about hydraulic fracturing, vis-à-vis, natural gas drilling in shale formations including the Barnett Shale, it's increasingly clear that we have all been victimized (and/or have been and are currently witness to) one of the most successful propaganda campaigns (by the industry and certain political entities on their behalf) in all of American history.
How true Anonymous 9:26 above. It's worse than what happened in the 1920's. We have been taken to the cleaners!
The TRRC is corrupt, The TCEQ does a great job of documentation, although quite slow on providing it, but a grade of 'F' on action, Most politicians are well into the pocket of Industry, The Industry itself spends tens of millions every year in lobbying fees, PR depts, propaganda, funding non-profit 'education' groups like the BSEEC (but also non-scientific knowledge) and receives BILLIONS of our tax dollars each year in corporate welfare.
Ed Non-Scientist Ireland quickly pointed out that Industry pollution isn't any higher that automobile traffic. (assuming the Titan chart of 18% is correct, which I seriously doubt) that would mean that Industry is responsible for HALF the air pollution. And we haven't even started talking about the tens of billions of water used and forever contaminated each year by Industry, the ground water contamination and soil contamination.
I know, I know, tens of thousands of jobs are at risk, we'll have to start buying our oil from terrorist nations, blah, blah, blah.
Thanks Tim, above. How elequalant your statement is. I could not have done it so good. Our system is rotten, corrupt, and inadquate and it includes all three branches of our government in Tx. == the Legislative, the Executive and the Judicial. All rotten and bought off by big oil and big business! Ordinary citizens who live on the land have no help from these folks.
Journal of Occupational Medicine:
Health Effects of Low-Level Exposure to Formaldehyde
Main, David M. M.D., M.P.H.; Hogan, Theodore J. Ph.D.
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Abstract
Twenty-one subjects exposed to formaldehyde (at levels between 0.12 and 1.6 parts per million [ppm]) in two mobile trailers and the remaining 18 unexposed workers of the same workforce were examined by questionnaire and spirometry. Symptoms of eye and throat irritation and increased headache and fatigue were significantly more common among the exposed group than the comparison group. Irritation of the nose, chest tightness, and shortness of breath were also more common among the exposed. Spirometry revealed no decrease in ventilatory function among the exposed workers. The significant increase in frequency of individuals with symptoms indicated an adverse health effect from exposure to formaldehyde at levels between 0.12 and 1.6 ppm. This may have implications regarding the adequacy of the US permissible exposure limit value and suggests the need for further examination of the health effects of formaldehyde in the nonoccupatlonal environment.
(C)1983 The American College of Occupational and Environmental Medicine