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McKenzie LM, Blair B, Hughes J, Allshouse WB, Blake NJ, Helmig D, Milmoe P, Halliday H, Blake DR, Adgate JL. Ambient Nonmethane Hydrocarbon Levels Along Colorado's Northern Front Range: Acute and Chronic Health Risks. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2018; 52:4514-4525. [PMID: 29584423 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.7b05983] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/17/2023]
Abstract
Oil and gas (O&G) facilities emit air pollutants that are potentially a major health risk for nearby populations. We characterized prenatal through adult health risks for acute (1 h) and chronic (30 year) residential inhalation exposure scenarios to nonmethane hydrocarbons (NMHCs) for these populations. We used ambient air sample results to estimate and compare risks for four residential scenarios. We found that air pollutant concentrations increased with proximity to an O&G facility, as did health risks. Acute hazard indices for neurological (18), hematological (15), and developmental (15) health effects indicate that populations living within 152 m of an O&G facility could experience these health effects from inhalation exposures to benzene and alkanes. Lifetime excess cancer risks exceeded 1 in a million for all scenarios. The cancer risk estimate of 8.3 per 10 000 for populations living within 152 m of an O&G facility exceeded the United States Environmental Protection Agency's 1 in 10 000 upper threshold. These findings indicate that state and federal regulatory policies may not be protective of health for populations residing near O&G facilities. Health risk assessment results can be used for informing policies and studies aimed at reducing and understanding health effects associated with air pollutants emitted from O&G facilities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lisa M McKenzie
- Department of Environmental and Occupational Health , Colorado School of Public Health, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus , Aurora , Colorado 80045 , United States
| | - Benjamin Blair
- Department of Environmental and Occupational Health , Colorado School of Public Health, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus , Aurora , Colorado 80045 , United States
| | - John Hughes
- Department of Biostatistics and Informatics, Colorado School of Public Health , University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus , Aurora , Colorado 80045 , United States
| | - William B Allshouse
- Department of Environmental and Occupational Health , Colorado School of Public Health, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus , Aurora , Colorado 80045 , United States
| | - Nicola J Blake
- Department of Chemistry , University of California , Irvine , California 92617 , United States
| | - Detlev Helmig
- Institute of Arctic and Alpine Research (INSTAAR) , University of Colorado Boulder , Boulder , Colorado 80309 , United States
| | - Pam Milmoe
- Boulder County Public Health , 1333 Iris Avenue , Boulder , Colorado 80304 , United States
| | | | - Donald R Blake
- Department of Chemistry , University of California , Irvine , California 92617 , United States
| | - John L Adgate
- Department of Environmental and Occupational Health , Colorado School of Public Health, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus , Aurora , Colorado 80045 , United States
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Watterson A, Dinan W. Public Health and Unconventional Oil and Gas Extraction Including Fracking: Global Lessons from a Scottish Government Review. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2018; 15:E675. [PMID: 29617318 PMCID: PMC5923717 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph15040675] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2017] [Revised: 02/22/2018] [Accepted: 03/29/2018] [Indexed: 01/17/2023]
Abstract
Unconventional oil and gas extraction (UOGE) including fracking for shale gas is underway in North America on a large scale, and in Australia and some other countries. It is viewed as a major source of global energy needs by proponents. Critics consider fracking and UOGE an immediate and long-term threat to global, national, and regional public health and climate. Rarely have governments brought together relatively detailed assessments of direct and indirect public health risks associated with fracking and weighed these against potential benefits to inform a national debate on whether to pursue this energy route. The Scottish government has now done so in a wide-ranging consultation underpinned by a variety of reports on unconventional gas extraction including fracking. This paper analyses the Scottish government approach from inception to conclusion, and from procedures to outcomes. The reports commissioned by the Scottish government include a comprehensive review dedicated specifically to public health as well as reports on climate change, economic impacts, transport, geology, and decommissioning. All these reports are relevant to public health, and taken together offer a comprehensive review of existing evidence. The approach is unique globally when compared with UOGE assessments conducted in the USA, Australia, Canada, and England. The review process builds a useful evidence base although it is not without flaws. The process approach, if not the content, offers a framework that may have merits globally.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew Watterson
- Occupational and Environmental Health Research Group, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Stirling, Stirling FK9 4LA, Scotland, UK.
| | - William Dinan
- Communications, Media & Culture, Faculty of Arts & Humanities, University of Stirling, Stirling FK9 4LA, Scotland, UK.
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Bolden AL, Schultz K, Pelch KE, Kwiatkowski CF. Exploring the endocrine activity of air pollutants associated with unconventional oil and gas extraction. Environ Health 2018; 17:26. [PMID: 29558955 PMCID: PMC5861625 DOI: 10.1186/s12940-018-0368-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/04/2017] [Accepted: 02/20/2018] [Indexed: 05/17/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND In the last decade unconventional oil and gas (UOG) extraction has rapidly proliferated throughout the United States (US) and the world. This occurred largely because of the development of directional drilling and hydraulic fracturing which allows access to fossil fuels from geologic formations that were previously not cost effective to pursue. This process is known to use greater than 1,000 chemicals such as solvents, surfactants, detergents, and biocides. In addition, a complex mixture of chemicals, including heavy metals, naturally-occurring radioactive chemicals, and organic compounds are released from the formations and can enter air and water. Compounds associated with UOG activity have been linked to adverse reproductive and developmental outcomes in humans and laboratory animal models, which is possibly due to the presence of endocrine active chemicals. METHODS Using systematic methods, electronic searches of PubMed and Web of Science were conducted to identify studies that measured chemicals in air near sites of UOG activity. Records were screened by title and abstract, relevant articles then underwent full text review, and data were extracted from the studies. A list of chemicals detected near UOG sites was generated. Then, the potential endocrine activity of the most frequently detected chemicals was explored via searches of literature from PubMed. RESULTS Evaluation of 48 studies that sampled air near sites of UOG activity identified 106 chemicals detected in two or more studies. Ethane, benzene and n-pentane were the top three most frequently detected. Twenty-one chemicals have been shown to have endocrine activity including estrogenic and androgenic activity and the ability to alter steroidogenesis. Literature also suggested that some of the air pollutants may affect reproduction, development, and neurophysiological function, all endpoints which can be modulated by hormones. These chemicals included aromatics (i.e., benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and xylene), several polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, and mercury. CONCLUSION These results provide a basis for prioritizing future primary studies regarding the endocrine disrupting properties of UOG air pollutants, including exposure research in wildlife and humans. Further, we recommend systematic reviews of the health impacts of exposure to specific chemicals, and comprehensive environmental sampling of a broader array of chemicals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ashley L. Bolden
- The Endocrine Disruption Exchange (TEDX), www.TEDX.org, Eckert, Colorado USA
| | - Kim Schultz
- The Endocrine Disruption Exchange (TEDX), www.TEDX.org, Eckert, Colorado USA
| | - Katherine E. Pelch
- The Endocrine Disruption Exchange (TEDX), www.TEDX.org, Eckert, Colorado USA
| | - Carol F. Kwiatkowski
- The Endocrine Disruption Exchange (TEDX), www.TEDX.org, Eckert, Colorado USA
- Department of Integrative Physiology, University of Colorado, Boulder, Colorado USA
- Biological Sciences, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina USA
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Casey JA, Pollak J, Glymour MM, Mayeda ER, Hirsch AG, Schwartz BS. Measures of SES for Electronic Health Record-based Research. Am J Prev Med 2018; 54:430-439. [PMID: 29241724 PMCID: PMC5818301 DOI: 10.1016/j.amepre.2017.10.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 89] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2017] [Revised: 09/05/2017] [Accepted: 10/05/2017] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Although infrequently recorded in electronic health records (EHRs), measures of SES are essential to describe health inequalities and account for confounding in epidemiologic research. Medical Assistance (i.e., Medicaid) is often used as a surrogate for SES, but correspondence between conventional SES and Medical Assistance has been insufficiently studied. METHODS Geisinger Clinic EHR data from 2001 to 2014 and a 2014 questionnaire were used to create six SES measures: EHR-derived Medical Assistance and proportion of time under observation on Medical Assistance; educational attainment, income, and marital status; and area-level poverty. Analyzed in 2016-2017, associations of SES measures with obesity, hypertension, type 2 diabetes, chronic rhinosinusitis, fatigue, and migraine headache were assessed using weighted age- and sex-adjusted logistic regression. RESULTS Among 5,550 participants (interquartile range, 39.6-57.5 years, 65.9% female), 83% never used Medical Assistance. All SES measures were correlated (Spearman's p≤0.4). Medical Assistance was significantly associated with all six health outcomes in adjusted models. For example, the OR for prevalent type 2 diabetes associated with Medical Assistance was 1.7 (95% CI=1.3, 2.2); the OR for high school versus college graduates was 1.7 (95% CI=1.2, 2.5). Medical Assistance was an imperfect proxy for SES: associations between conventional SES measures and health were attenuated <20% after adjustment for Medical Assistance. CONCLUSIONS Because systematically collected SES measures are rarely available in EHRs and are unlikely to appear soon, researchers can use EHR-based Medical Assistance to describe inequalities. As SES has many domains, researchers who use Medical Assistance to evaluate the association of SES with health should expect substantial unmeasured confounding.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joan A Casey
- Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Health and Society Scholars Program, University of California, San Francisco, California; Department of Environmental Science, Policy, and Management, University of California, Berkeley, California.
| | - Jonathan Pollak
- Department of Environmental Health and Engineering, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - M Maria Glymour
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of California, San Francisco School of Medicine, San Francisco, California
| | - Elizabeth R Mayeda
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of California, San Francisco School of Medicine, San Francisco, California; Department of Epidemiology, University of California, Los Angeles Fielding School of Public Health, Los Angeles, California
| | - Annemarie G Hirsch
- Department of Epidemiology and Health Services Research, Geisinger Health System, Danville, Pennsylvania
| | - Brian S Schwartz
- Department of Environmental Health and Engineering, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland; Department of Epidemiology, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland; Department of Medicine, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland; Center for Health Research, Geisinger Health System, Danville, Pennsylvania
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Konkel L. In the Neighborhood of 18 Million: Estimating How Many People Live Near Oil and Gas Wells. ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH PERSPECTIVES 2017; 125:124003. [PMID: 29225196 PMCID: PMC5963578 DOI: 10.1289/ehp2553] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2017] [Accepted: 07/31/2017] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
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Weinberger B, Greiner LH, Walleigh L, Brown D. Health symptoms in residents living near shale gas activity: A retrospective record review from the Environmental Health Project. Prev Med Rep 2017; 8:112-115. [PMID: 29021947 PMCID: PMC5633856 DOI: 10.1016/j.pmedr.2017.09.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2017] [Revised: 07/11/2017] [Accepted: 09/01/2017] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Increasing evidence demonstrates an association between health symptoms and exposure to unconventional natural gas development (UNGD). The purpose of this study is to describe the health of adults in communities with intense UNGD who presented for evaluation of symptoms. Records of 135 structured health assessments conducted between February 2012 and October 2015 were reviewed retrospectively. Publicly available data were used to determine proximity to gas wells. Analysis was restricted to records of adults who lived within 1 km of a well in Pennsylvania and denied employment in the gas industry (n = 51). Symptoms in each record were reviewed by a physician. Symptoms that could be explained by pre-existing or concurrent conditions or social history and those that began or worsened prior to exposure were excluded. Exposure was calculated using date of well drilling within 1 km. The number of symptoms/participant ranged from 0 to 19 (mean = 6.2; SD = 5.1). Symptoms most commonly reported were: sleep disruption, headache, throat irritation, stress or anxiety, cough, shortness of breath, sinus problems, fatigue, nausea, and wheezing. These results are consistent with findings of prior studies using self-report without physician review. In comparison, our results are strengthened by the collection of health data by a health care provider, critical review of symptoms for possible alternative causes, and confirmation of timing of exposure to unconventional natural gas well relative to symptom onset or exacerbation. Our findings confirm earlier studies and add to the growing body of evidence of the association between symptoms and exposure to UNGD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Beth Weinberger
- Southwest Pennsylvania Environmental Health Project, The Grove, 760 Chapel St., New Haven, CT 06510, United States
| | - Lydia H. Greiner
- Southwest Pennsylvania Environmental Health Project, 2001 Waterdam Plaza Suite 201, McMurray, PA 15317, United States
| | - Leslie Walleigh
- Southwest Pennsylvania Environmental Health Project, 2001 Waterdam Plaza Suite 201, McMurray, PA 15317, United States
| | - David Brown
- Southwest Pennsylvania Environmental Health Project, The Grove, 760 Chapel St., New Haven, CT 06510, United States
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Sundaresan AS, Hirsch AG, Young AJ, Pollak J, Tan BK, Schleimer RP, Kern RC, Kennedy TL, Greene JS, Stewart WF, Bandeen-Roche K, Schwartz BS. Longitudinal Evaluation of Chronic Rhinosinusitis Symptoms in a Population-Based Sample. THE JOURNAL OF ALLERGY AND CLINICAL IMMUNOLOGY-IN PRACTICE 2017; 6:1327-1335.e3. [PMID: 29133225 DOI: 10.1016/j.jaip.2017.10.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2017] [Revised: 10/03/2017] [Accepted: 10/12/2017] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) is a prevalent and disabling condition of the nose and sinuses. The natural history of CRS symptoms in a general population sample has not been previously studied. OBJECTIVE In a general population-based sample from Pennsylvania, we used 2 questionnaires mailed 6 months apart to estimate the prevalence of, and identify predictors for, stability or change in symptoms over time. METHODS We mailed the baseline and 6-month follow-up questionnaires to 23,700 primary care patients and 7,801 baseline responders, respectively. We categorized nasal and sinus symptoms using European Position Paper on Rhinosinusitis (EPOS) epidemiologic criteria. We defined 6 symptom groups over time on the basis of the presence of CRS symptoms at baseline and follow-up. We performed multivariable survey logistic regression controlling for confounding variables comparing persistent versus nonpersistent, recurrent versus stable past, and incident versus never. RESULTS There were 4,966 responders at follow-up: 558 had persistent symptoms, 190 recurrent symptoms, and 83 new symptoms meeting EPOS criteria for CRS. The prevalence of persistent symptoms was 4.8% (95% CI, 3.8-5.8), whereas the annual cumulative incidence of new symptoms was 1.9% and of recurrent symptoms was 3.2%. More severe symptoms at baseline were associated with persistence, whereas minor symptoms, allergies, and multiple treatments were associated with the development of new symptoms. CONCLUSIONS Less than half with nasal and sinus symptoms meeting CRS EPOS criteria in our general, regional population had symptom persistence over time, with symptom profiles at baseline and age of onset being strongly associated with stability of symptoms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Agnes S Sundaresan
- Department of Epidemiology and Health Services Research, Geisinger Health System, Danville, Pa.
| | - Annemarie G Hirsch
- Department of Epidemiology and Health Services Research, Geisinger Health System, Danville, Pa
| | - Amanda J Young
- Department of Epidemiology and Health Services Research, Geisinger Health System, Danville, Pa
| | - Jonathan Pollak
- Department of Environmental Health and Engineering, Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Md
| | - Bruce K Tan
- Department of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery and the Division of Allergy and Immunology, Department of Medicine, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, Ill
| | - Robert P Schleimer
- Department of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery and the Division of Allergy and Immunology, Department of Medicine, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, Ill
| | - Robert C Kern
- Department of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery and the Division of Allergy and Immunology, Department of Medicine, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, Ill
| | - Thomas L Kennedy
- Department of Otolaryngology/Head and Neck/Facial Plastic Surgery, Geisinger Health System, Danville, Pa
| | - J Scott Greene
- Department of Otolaryngology/Head and Neck/Facial Plastic Surgery, Geisinger Health System, Danville, Pa
| | | | - Karen Bandeen-Roche
- Department of Biostatistics, Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Md
| | - Brian S Schwartz
- Department of Epidemiology and Health Services Research, Geisinger Health System, Danville, Pa; Department of Environmental Health and Engineering, Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Md
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Krometis LA, Gohlke J, Kolivras K, Satterwhite E, Marmagas SW, Marr LC. Environmental health disparities in the Central Appalachian region of the United States. REVIEWS ON ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH 2017; 32:253-266. [PMID: 28682789 DOI: 10.1515/reveh-2017-0012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/27/2017] [Accepted: 05/12/2017] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
Health disparities that cannot be fully explained by socio-behavioral factors persist in the Central Appalachian region of the United States. A review of available studies of environmental impacts on Appalachian health and analysis of recent public data indicates that while disparities exist, most studies of local environmental quality focus on the preservation of nonhuman biodiversity rather than on effects on human health. The limited public health studies available focus primarily on the impacts of coal mining and do not measure personal exposure, constraining the ability to identify causal relationships between environmental conditions and public health. Future efforts must engage community members in examining all potential sources of environmental health disparities to identify effective potential interventions.
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Czolowski ED, Santoro RL, Srebotnjak T, Shonkoff SBC. Toward Consistent Methodology to Quantify Populations in Proximity to Oil and Gas Development: A National Spatial Analysis and Review. ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH PERSPECTIVES 2017; 125:086004. [PMID: 28858829 PMCID: PMC5783652 DOI: 10.1289/ehp1535] [Citation(s) in RCA: 66] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2016] [Revised: 05/30/2017] [Accepted: 06/05/2017] [Indexed: 05/17/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Higher risk of exposure to environmental health hazards near oil and gas wells has spurred interest in quantifying populations that live in proximity to oil and gas development. The available studies on this topic lack consistent methodology and ignore aspects of oil and gas development of value to public health-relevant assessment and decision-making. OBJECTIVES We aim to present a methodological framework for oil and gas development proximity studies grounded in an understanding of hydrocarbon geology and development techniques. METHODS We geospatially overlay locations of active oil and gas wells in the conterminous United States and Census data to estimate the population living in proximity to hydrocarbon development at the national and state levels. We compare our methods and findings with existing proximity studies. RESULTS Nationally, we estimate that 17.6 million people live within 1,600m (∼1 mi) of at least one active oil and/or gas well. Three of the eight studies overestimate populations at risk from actively producing oil and gas wells by including wells without evidence of production or drilling completion and/or using inappropriate population allocation methods. The remaining five studies, by omitting conventional wells in regions dominated by historical conventional development, significantly underestimate populations at risk. CONCLUSIONS The well inventory guidelines we present provide an improved methodology for hydrocarbon proximity studies by acknowledging the importance of both conventional and unconventional well counts as well as the relative exposure risks associated with different primary production categories (e.g., oil, wet gas, dry gas) and developmental stages of wells. https://doi.org/10.1289/EHP1535.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Seth B C Shonkoff
- PSE Healthy Energy , Oakland, California, USA
- Department of Environmental Science, Policy and Management, University of California, Berkeley , Berkeley, California, USA
- Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, California, USA
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Werner AK, Cameron CM, Watt K, Vink S, Jagals P, Page A. Is Increasing Coal Seam Gas Well Development Activity Associated with Increasing Hospitalisation Rates in Queensland, Australia? An Exploratory Analysis 1995-2011. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2017; 14:E540. [PMID: 28524113 PMCID: PMC5451990 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph14050540] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/25/2017] [Revised: 05/06/2017] [Accepted: 05/06/2017] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
The majority of Australia's coal seam gas (CSG) reserves are in Queensland, where the industry has expanded rapidly in recent years. Despite concerns, health data have not been examined alongside CSG development. This study examined hospitalisation rates as a function of CSG development activity in Queensland, during the period 1995-2011. Admissions data were examined with CSG well numbers, which served as a proxy for CSG development activity. Time series models were used to assess changes in hospitalisation rates for periods of "low", "medium", "high", and "intense" activity compared to a period of "very low" activity, adjusting for covariates. "All-cause" hospitalisation rates increased monotonically with increasing gas well development activity in females (324.0 to 390.3 per 1000 persons) and males (294.2 to 335.4 per 1000 persons). Hospitalisation rates for "Blood/immune" conditions generally increased for both sexes. Female and male hospitalisation rates for "Circulatory" conditions decreased with increasing CSG activity. Hospitalisation rates were generally low for reproductive and birth outcomes; no clear associations were observed. This study showed some outcomes were associated with increasing CSG development activity. However, as a condition of data access, the population and outcomes were aggregated to a broad geographic study area rather than using higher geographic resolution data. Higher resolution data, as well as other data sources, should be explored. Further research should be conducted with an expanded time period to determine if these trends continue as the industry grows.
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Affiliation(s)
- Angela K Werner
- Sustainable Minerals Institute, The University of Queensland, St. Lucia, QLD 4072, Australia.
| | - Cate M Cameron
- Menzies Health Institute Queensland, Griffith University, Logan, QLD 4131, Australia.
| | - Kerrianne Watt
- College of Public Health, Medical and Veterinary Sciences, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD 4811, Australia.
| | - Sue Vink
- Sustainable Minerals Institute, The University of Queensland, St. Lucia, QLD 4072, Australia.
| | - Paul Jagals
- Children's Health and Environment Programme, University of Queensland, Centre for Children's Health Research, Brisbane, QLD 4101, Australia.
| | - Andrew Page
- Centre for Health Research, Western Sydney University, Penrith, NSW 2150, Australia.
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Abstract
The evidence on public health regulation of the unconventional gas extraction (fracking) industry was examined using a rapid evidence assessment of fifteen case studies from multiple countries. They included scientific and academic papers, professional reports, government agency reports, industry and industry-funded reports, and a nongovernment organization report. Each case study review was structured to address strengths and weaknesses of the publication in relation to our research questions. Some case studies emphasized inherent industry short-, medium-, and long-term dangers to public health directly and through global climate change impacts. Other case studies argued that fracking could be conducted safely assuming industry best practice, "robust" regulation, and mitigation, but the evidence base for such statements proved generally sparse. U.K. regulators' own assessments on fracking regulation are also evaluated. The existing evidence points to the necessity of a precautionary approach to protect public health from unconventional gas extraction development.
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Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW This review summarizes the recent epidemiologic literature examining health outcomes in communities living close to unconventional natural gas development (UNGD) and identifies areas requiring further study. RECENT FINDINGS To date, these studies have been primarily retrospective in design and used self-report of health symptoms or electronic health databases to obtain outcome information. Proximity to UNGD is often used as a surrogate for exposure. There is preliminary evidence linking respiratory outcomes, including asthma exacerbations, and birth outcomes, such as reduced fetal growth and preterm birth, to UNGD; however, results differ across study populations and regions. SUMMARY Although small, the current body of literature suggests that living near UNGD may have negative health consequences for surrounding communities, but additional work using more granular estimates of exposure or personalized monitoring is urgently needed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shaina L. Stacy
- Department of Epidemiology, Brown University School of Public Health, Box G-S121-2, Providence, Rhode Island 02912
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Hirsch AG, Stewart WF, Sundaresan AS, Young AJ, Kennedy TL, Scott Greene J, Feng W, Tan BK, Schleimer RP, Kern RC, Lidder A, Schwartz BS. Nasal and sinus symptoms and chronic rhinosinusitis in a population-based sample. Allergy 2017; 72:274-281. [PMID: 27590749 DOI: 10.1111/all.13042] [Citation(s) in RCA: 146] [Impact Index Per Article: 20.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 09/01/2016] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The objective of this study was to describe the first US-based study to use the European Position Paper on Rhinosinusitis (EPOS) criteria to study the prevalence of chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) in a general-population sample. METHODS A CRS symptom questionnaire was mailed to 23 700 primary care patients from Geisinger Clinic, a health system serving 45 counties in Pennsylvania. CRS cases were categorized into four unique subgroups based on EPOS symptoms: obstruction and discharge with no smell loss or pain/pressure; smell loss without pain/pressure; facial pain and/or pressure without smell loss; and both smell loss and pain/pressure. All cases were required to have nasal obstruction or discharge. Logistic regression was used to evaluate potential factors associated with CRS subgroups. RESULTS We found that 11.9% of patients met criteria for CRS. Prevalence peaked at 15.9% between ages 50 and 59 years and then dropped to 6.8% after age 69. The odds of CRS was higher among patients who were white, younger, smokers, had a history of Medical Assistance, and had other diseases. When CRS subgroups were modeled separately, these associations were no longer significant for some CRS subgroups. Comorbid diseases were most strongly associated with CRS cases who reported smell loss and facial pain and/or pressure and had the weakest associations with CRS cases who did not report these symptoms. CONCLUSIONS CRS is a highly prevalent and heterogeneous condition. Differences in risk factors and health outcomes across symptom subgroups may be indicative of differences in etiology that have implications for disease management.
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Affiliation(s)
- A. G. Hirsch
- Department of Epidemiology and Health Services Research; Geisinger Health System; Danville PA USA
| | - W. F. Stewart
- Research Development and Dissemination; Sutter Health; San Francisco CA USA
| | - A. S. Sundaresan
- Department of Epidemiology and Health Services Research; Geisinger Health System; Danville PA USA
| | - A. J. Young
- Department of Biomedical and Translational Informatics; Geisinger Health System; Danville PA USA
| | - T. L. Kennedy
- Department of Otolaryngology/Head and Neck/Facial Plastic Surgery; Geisinger Health System; Danville PA USA
| | - J. Scott Greene
- Department of Otolaryngology/Head and Neck/Facial Plastic Surgery; Geisinger Health System; Danville PA USA
| | - W. Feng
- Department of Biomedical and Translational Informatics; Geisinger Health System; Danville PA USA
| | - B. K. Tan
- Department of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery Department of Medicine; Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine; Chicago IL USA
- Division of Allergy and Immunology; Department of Medicine; Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine; Chicago IL USA
| | - R. P. Schleimer
- Department of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery Department of Medicine; Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine; Chicago IL USA
- Division of Allergy and Immunology; Department of Medicine; Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine; Chicago IL USA
| | - R. C. Kern
- Department of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery Department of Medicine; Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine; Chicago IL USA
- Division of Allergy and Immunology; Department of Medicine; Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine; Chicago IL USA
| | - A. Lidder
- University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry; University of Rochester Medical Center; Rochester NY USA
| | - B. S. Schwartz
- Department of Epidemiology and Health Services Research; Geisinger Health System; Danville PA USA
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences; Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health; Baltimore MA USA
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Elliott EG, Trinh P, Ma X, Leaderer BP, Ward MH, Deziel NC. Unconventional oil and gas development and risk of childhood leukemia: Assessing the evidence. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2017; 576:138-147. [PMID: 27783932 PMCID: PMC6457992 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2016.10.072] [Citation(s) in RCA: 56] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/25/2016] [Revised: 10/09/2016] [Accepted: 10/10/2016] [Indexed: 05/17/2023]
Abstract
The widespread distribution of unconventional oil and gas (UO&G) wells and other facilities in the United States potentially exposes millions of people to air and water pollutants, including known or suspected carcinogens. Childhood leukemia is a particular concern because of the disease severity, vulnerable population, and short disease latency. A comprehensive review of carcinogens and leukemogens associated with UO&G development is not available and could inform future exposure monitoring studies and human health assessments. The objective of this analysis was to assess the evidence of carcinogenicity of water contaminants and air pollutants related to UO&G development. We obtained a list of 1177 chemicals in hydraulic fracturing fluids and wastewater from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and constructed a list of 143 UO&G-related air pollutants through a review of scientific papers published through 2015 using PubMed and ProQuest databases. We assessed carcinogenicity and evidence of increased risk for leukemia/lymphoma of these chemicals using International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) monographs. The majority of compounds (>80%) were not evaluated by IARC and therefore could not be reviewed. Of the 111 potential water contaminants and 29 potential air pollutants evaluated by IARC (119 unique compounds), 49 water and 20 air pollutants were known, probable, or possible human carcinogens (55 unique compounds). A total of 17 water and 11 air pollutants (20 unique compounds) had evidence of increased risk for leukemia/lymphoma, including benzene, 1,3-butadiene, cadmium, diesel exhaust, and several polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. Though information on the carcinogenicity of compounds associated with UO&G development was limited, our assessment identified 20 known or suspected carcinogens that could be measured in future studies to advance exposure and risk assessments of cancer-causing agents. Our findings support the need for investigation into the relationship between UO&G development and risk of cancer in general and childhood leukemia in particular.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elise G Elliott
- Yale School of Public Health, Yale University, 60 College St., New Haven, CT 06520, USA
| | - Pauline Trinh
- Yale School of Public Health, Yale University, 60 College St., New Haven, CT 06520, USA
| | - Xiaomei Ma
- Yale School of Public Health, Yale University, 60 College St., New Haven, CT 06520, USA
| | - Brian P Leaderer
- Yale School of Public Health, Yale University, 60 College St., New Haven, CT 06520, USA
| | - Mary H Ward
- National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, 9609 Medical Center Drive, Bethesda, MD 20850, USA
| | - Nicole C Deziel
- Yale School of Public Health, Yale University, 60 College St., New Haven, CT 06520, USA..
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McKenzie LM, Allshouse WB, Burke T, Blair BD, Adgate JL. Population Size, Growth, and Environmental Justice Near Oil and Gas Wells in Colorado. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2016; 50:11471-11480. [PMID: 27689723 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.6b04391] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
We evaluated population size and factors influencing environmental justice near oil and gas (O&G) wells. We mapped nearest O&G well to residential properties to evaluate population size, temporal relationships between housing and O&G development, and 2012 housing market value distributions in three major Colorado O&G basins. We reviewed land use, building, real estate, and state O&G regulations to evaluate distributive and participatory justice. We found that by 2012 at least 378,000 Coloradans lived within 1 mile of an active O&G well, and this population was growing at a faster rate than the overall population. In the Denver Julesburg and San Juan basins, which experienced substantial O&G development prior to 2000, we observed a larger proportion of lower value homes within 500 feet of an O&G well and that most O&G wells predated houses. In the Piceance Basin, which had not experienced substantial prior O&G development, we observed a larger proportion of high value homes within 500 feet of an O&G well and that most houses predated O&G wells. We observed economic, rural, participatory, and/or distributive injustices that could contribute to health risk vulnerabilities in populations near O&G wells. We encourage policy makers to consider measures to reduce these injustices.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lisa M McKenzie
- Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, Colorado School of Public Health , 13001 East 17th Place, Campus Box B119, Aurora, Colorado 80045, United States
| | - William B Allshouse
- Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, Colorado School of Public Health , 13001 East 17th Place, Campus Box B119, Aurora, Colorado 80045, United States
| | - Troy Burke
- Department of Civil, Environmental, and Architectural Engineering, University of Colorado , Boulder, Colorado 80305, United States
| | - Benjamin D Blair
- Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, Colorado School of Public Health , 13001 East 17th Place, Campus Box B119, Aurora, Colorado 80045, United States
| | - John L Adgate
- Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, Colorado School of Public Health , 13001 East 17th Place, Campus Box B119, Aurora, Colorado 80045, United States
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