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McDevitt B, Tasker TL, Coyte R, Blondes MS, Stewart BW, Capo RC, Hakala JA, Vengosh A, Burgos WD, Warner NR. Utica/Point Pleasant brine isotopic compositions (δ 7Li, δ 11B, δ 138Ba) elucidate mechanisms of lithium enrichment in the Appalachian Basin. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 947:174588. [PMID: 38981550 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.174588] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/26/2024] [Revised: 07/05/2024] [Accepted: 07/05/2024] [Indexed: 07/11/2024]
Abstract
Global Li production will require a ∼500 % increase to meet 2050 projected energy storage demands. One potential source is oil and gas wastewater (i.e., produced water or brine), which naturally has high total dissolved solids (TDS) concentrations, that can also be enriched in Li (>100 mg/L). Understanding the sources and mechanisms responsible for high naturally-occurring Li concentrations can aid in efficient targeting of these brines. The isotopic composition (δ7Li, δ11B, δ138Ba) of produced water and core samples from the Utica Shale and Point Pleasant Formation (UPP) in the Appalachian Basin, USA indicates that depth-dependent thermal maturity and water-rock interaction, including diagenetic clay mineral transformations, likely control Li concentrations. A survey of Li content in produced waters throughout the USA indicates that Appalachian Basin brines from the Marcellus Shale to the UPP have the potential for economic resource recovery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bonnie McDevitt
- U.S. Geological Survey, Geology, Energy & Minerals Science Center, Reston, VA, United States of America.
| | - Travis L Tasker
- Saint Francis University, Department of Environmental Engineering, Loretto, PA, United States of America
| | - Rachel Coyte
- New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology, Earth and Environmental Science Department, Socorro, NM, United States of America
| | - Madalyn S Blondes
- U.S. Geological Survey, Geology, Energy & Minerals Science Center, Reston, VA, United States of America
| | - Brian W Stewart
- University of Pittsburgh, Department of Geology and Environmental Science, Pittsburgh, PA, United States of America
| | - Rosemary C Capo
- University of Pittsburgh, Department of Geology and Environmental Science, Pittsburgh, PA, United States of America
| | - J Alexandra Hakala
- Department of Energy, National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL), Pittsburgh, PA, United States of America
| | - Avner Vengosh
- Duke University, Nicholas School of the Environment, Durham, NC, United States of America
| | - William D Burgos
- The Pennsylvania State University, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, State College, PA, United States of America
| | - Nathaniel R Warner
- The Pennsylvania State University, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, State College, PA, United States of America
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2
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Farnan J, Eck A, Kearney A, Dorman FL, Ismail H, Chase E, Liu X, Warner NR, Burgos WD. Oil and gas produced waters fail to meet beneficial reuse recommendations for use as dust suppressants. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 919:170807. [PMID: 38336068 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.170807] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/05/2023] [Revised: 01/17/2024] [Accepted: 02/06/2024] [Indexed: 02/12/2024]
Abstract
Produced water from conventional oil and gas wells (O&G PW) is beneficially reused as an inexpensive alternative to commercial dust suppressants which minimize inhalable particulate matter (PM10) from unpaved roads. The efficacy and environmental impacts of using O&G PW instead of commercial products have not been extensively investigated, although O&G PW has been used for dust suppression for decades and often has elevated concentrations of environmental pollutants. In this study, the effectiveness of O&G PW is compared to commercial products under variable humidity conditions by measuring total generated PM10 emissions from treated road aggregate discs. To measure environmental impacts, model roadbeds were treated with six O&G PW and commercial products then subjected to a simulated two-year, 24-h storm event. Generated runoff water was collected and characterized. In efficacy studies, O&G PW offered variable dust reduction (10-85 %) compared to rainwater controls under high humidity (50 %) conditions but performed similarly or worse than controls when humidity was low (20 %). Conversely, all but two commercial products reduced dust emissions by over 90 % regardless of humidity. In rainfall-runoff experiments, roads treated with O&G PWs and CaCl2 Brine generated runoff that was hypersaline, indicating that mobilization of soluble salts could contribute to freshwater salinization. Though most runoff concentrations were highest from roadbeds treated with CaCl2 Brine, runoff from roadbeds treated with O&G PW had the highest concentrations of combined radium (83.6 pCi/L), sodium (3560 mg/L), and suspended solids (5330 mg/L). High sodium concentrations likely dispersed clay particles, which increased road mass loss by 47.2 kg solids/km/storm event compared to rainwater controls. Roadbeds treated with CaCl2 Brine, which had low sodium concentrations, reduced solid road mass loss by 98.1 kg solids/km/storm event. Based on this study, O&G PW do not perform as well as commercial products and pose unique risks to environmental health.
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Affiliation(s)
- James Farnan
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA.
| | - Andrew Eck
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA.
| | - Andrew Kearney
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA.
| | - Frank L Dorman
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA.
| | - Hassan Ismail
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA.
| | - Eric Chase
- Center for Dirt and Gravel Road Studies, Larson Transportation Institute, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA.
| | - Xiaofeng Liu
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA.
| | - Nathaniel R Warner
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA.
| | - William D Burgos
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA.
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Zhang H, Han X, Wang G, Zhou L, Huang D, Chen X, Zhang F. Hydrogeochemical and isotopic evidences of the underlying produced water intrusion into shallow groundwater in an oil production area, Northwest China. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 916:170242. [PMID: 38278275 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.170242] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/07/2023] [Revised: 12/22/2023] [Accepted: 01/15/2024] [Indexed: 01/28/2024]
Abstract
The extensive use of fossil fuels (e.g., oil) poses a hidden danger to groundwater quality. However, inorganic pollution has received limited attention compared to organic pollution. In this study, the potential contaminant sources to shallow groundwater were investigated using hydrochemical (e.g., major and trace elements) and isotopic (δ2H and δ18O) methods at an oil field, northwest China, with emphasis on the identification of produced water (PW; oil production-related water) intrusion. The results showed that the groundwater samples can be chemically and isotopically classified into two groups: Group A (severely polluted) and B (slightly or non- polluted). The hydrochemical characteristics of Group A were similar to that of PW, with a comparable Na+/Cl- ratio and elevated levels of Na+, Ca2+, Cl-, Br-, Sr, Ba, Li, B and total volatile organic compounds (TVOCs; volatile and semi-volatile) concentration, but lower HCO3- and SO42- contents, and depleted δ2H and δ18O, which was not suitable for drinking. Groundwater salinity sources involve mineral dissolution (silicate, carbonate and evaporite), cation exchange and anaerobic microbial degradation, as well as deep PW intrusion (especially in Group A). The Cl mixing model showed that PW contributed 13.63-27.78 % to Group A, supported by the results of the isotope mixing model based on δ2H and δ18O (24.43-33.29 %). An overall pollution conceptual model involves three modes: fracturing, surface infiltration, and groundwater lateral runoff. This study validates the effectiveness of Na, Cl, Br, Sr, Ba, Li and B as favorable tracers for monitoring PW intrusion.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hongyu Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Biogeology and Environmental Geology & MOE Key Laboratory of Groundwater Circulation and Environmental Evolution, China University of Geosciences, Beijing 100083, China; School of Water Resources and Environment, China University of Geosciences, Beijing 100083, China
| | - Xu Han
- Geology Institute of China Chemical Geology and Mine Bureau, Beijing 100028, China
| | - Guangcai Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Biogeology and Environmental Geology & MOE Key Laboratory of Groundwater Circulation and Environmental Evolution, China University of Geosciences, Beijing 100083, China; School of Water Resources and Environment, China University of Geosciences, Beijing 100083, China.
| | - Ling Zhou
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Urban Hydrological Cycle and Sponge City Technology, College of Water Sciences, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China
| | - Dandan Huang
- School of Water Resources & Environment Engineering, East China University of Technology, Nanchang, Jiangxi 330013, China
| | - Xianglong Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Biogeology and Environmental Geology & MOE Key Laboratory of Groundwater Circulation and Environmental Evolution, China University of Geosciences, Beijing 100083, China; School of Water Resources and Environment, China University of Geosciences, Beijing 100083, China
| | - Fan Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Biogeology and Environmental Geology & MOE Key Laboratory of Groundwater Circulation and Environmental Evolution, China University of Geosciences, Beijing 100083, China; School of Water Resources and Environment, China University of Geosciences, Beijing 100083, China
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4
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Ahmad J, Marsidi N, Sheikh Abdullah SR, Hasan HA, Othman AR, Ismail N'I, Kurniawan SB. Integrating phytoremediation and mycoremediation with biosurfactant-producing fungi for hydrocarbon removal and the potential production of secondary resources. CHEMOSPHERE 2024; 349:140881. [PMID: 38048826 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2023.140881] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/04/2023] [Revised: 11/26/2023] [Accepted: 12/01/2023] [Indexed: 12/06/2023]
Abstract
Treatment of petroleum-contaminated soil to a less toxic medium via physical and chemical treatment is too costly and requires posttreatment. This review focuses on the employment of phytoremediation and mycoremediation technologies in cleaning hydrocarbon-contaminated soil which is currently rare. It is considered environmentally beneficial and possibly cost-effective as it implements the synergistic interaction between plants and biosurfactant producing mycorrhiza to degrade hydrocarbon contaminants. This review also covers possible sources of hydrocarbon pollution in water and soil, toxicity effects, and current technologies for hydrocarbon removal and degradation. In addition to these problems, this review also discusses the challenges and opportunities of transforming the resultant treated sludge and treating plants into potential by-products for a higher quality of life for future generations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jamilah Ahmad
- Department of Chemical and Process Engineering, Faculty of Engineering and Built Environment, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, 43600, UKM Bangi, Selangor, Malaysia.
| | - Nuratiqah Marsidi
- Department of Chemical and Process Engineering, Faculty of Engineering and Built Environment, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, 43600, UKM Bangi, Selangor, Malaysia.
| | - Siti Rozaimah Sheikh Abdullah
- Department of Chemical and Process Engineering, Faculty of Engineering and Built Environment, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, 43600, UKM Bangi, Selangor, Malaysia.
| | - Hassimi Abu Hasan
- Department of Chemical and Process Engineering, Faculty of Engineering and Built Environment, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, 43600, UKM Bangi, Selangor, Malaysia; Research Centre for Sustainable Process Technology (CESPRO), Faculty of Engineering and Built Environment, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, 43600, UKM Bangi, Selangor, Malaysia.
| | - Ahmad Razi Othman
- Department of Chemical and Process Engineering, Faculty of Engineering and Built Environment, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, 43600, UKM Bangi, Selangor, Malaysia.
| | - Nur 'Izzati Ismail
- Department of Chemical and Process Engineering, Faculty of Engineering and Built Environment, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, 43600, UKM Bangi, Selangor, Malaysia.
| | - Setyo Budi Kurniawan
- Laboratory of Algal Biotechnology, Centre Algatech, Institute of Microbiology of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Opatovický mlýn, Novohradská 237, Třeboň, 379 81, Czech Republic.
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5
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Edwards TM, Puglis HJ, Kent DB, Durán JL, Bradshaw LM, Farag AM. Ammonia and aquatic ecosystems - A review of global sources, biogeochemical cycling, and effects on fish. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 907:167911. [PMID: 37871823 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.167911] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2023] [Revised: 09/27/2023] [Accepted: 10/16/2023] [Indexed: 10/25/2023]
Abstract
The purpose of this review is to better understand the full life cycle and influence of ammonia from an aquatic biology perspective. While ammonia has toxic properties in water and air, it also plays a central role in the biogeochemical nitrogen (N) cycle and regulates mechanisms of normal and abnormal fish physiology. Additionally, as the second most synthesized chemical on Earth, ammonia contributes economic value to many sectors, particularly fertilizers, energy storage, explosives, refrigerants, and plastics. But, with so many uses, industrial N2-fixation effectively doubles natural reactive N concentrations in the environment. The consequence is global, with excess fixed nitrogen driving degradation of soils, water, and air; intensifying eutrophication, biodiversity loss, and climate change; and creating health risks for humans, wildlife, and fisheries. Thus, the need for ammonia research in aquatic systems is growing. In response, we prepared this review to better understand the complexities and connectedness of environmental ammonia. Even the term "ammonia" has multiple meanings. So, we have clarified the nomenclature, identified units of measurement, and summarized methods to measure ammonia in water. We then discuss ammonia in the context of the N-cycle, review its role in fish physiology and mechanisms of toxicity, and integrate the effects of human N-fixation, which continuously expands ammonia's sources and uses. Ammonia is being developed as a carbon-free energy carrier with potential to increase reactive nitrogen in the environment. With this in mind, we review the global impacts of excess reactive nitrogen and consider the current monitoring and regulatory frameworks for ammonia. The presented synthesis illustrates the complex and interactive dynamics of ammonia as a plant nutrient, energy molecule, feedstock, waste product, contaminant, N-cycle participant, regulator of animal physiology, toxicant, and agent of environmental change. Few molecules are as influential as ammonia in the management and resilience of Earth's resources.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thea M Edwards
- U.S. Geological Survey, Columbia Environmental Research Center, Columbia, MO 65201, USA.
| | - Holly J Puglis
- U.S. Geological Survey, Columbia Environmental Research Center, Columbia, MO 65201, USA
| | - Douglas B Kent
- U.S. Geological Survey, Earth Systems Processes Division, Menlo Park, CA, USA
| | - Jonathan López Durán
- U.S. Geological Survey, Columbia Environmental Research Center, Columbia, MO 65201, USA
| | - Lillian M Bradshaw
- U.S. Geological Survey, Columbia Environmental Research Center, Columbia, MO 65201, USA
| | - Aïda M Farag
- U.S. Geological Survey, Columbia Environmental Research Center, Jackson Field Research Station, Jackson, WY, USA
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6
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Stewart CB, Lowes HM, Mehler WT, Snihur KN, Flynn SL, Alessi DS, Blewett TA. Spatial and temporal variation in toxicity and inorganic composition of hydraulic fracturing flowback and produced water. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2023; 460:132490. [PMID: 37703728 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2023.132490] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2023] [Revised: 08/16/2023] [Accepted: 09/04/2023] [Indexed: 09/15/2023]
Abstract
Hydraulic fracturing for oil and gas extraction produces large volumes of wastewater, termed flowback and produced water (FPW), that are highly saline and contain a variety of organic and inorganic contaminants. In the present study, FPW samples from ten hydraulically fractured wells, across two geologic formations were collected at various timepoints. Samples were analyzed to determine spatial and temporal variation in their inorganic composition. Results indicate that FPW composition varied both between formations and within a single formation, with large compositional changes occurring over short distances. Temporally, all wells showed a time-dependent increase in inorganic elements, with total dissolved solids increasing by up to 200,000 mg/L over time, primarily due to elements associated with salinity (Cl, Na, Ca, Mg, K). Toxicological analysis of a subset of the FPW samples showed median lethal concentrations (LC50) of FPW to the aquatic invertebrate Daphnia magna were highly variable, with the LC50 values ranging from 1.16% to 13.7% FPW. Acute toxicity of FPW significantly correlated with salinity, indicating salinity is a primary driver of FPW toxicity, however organic components also contributed to toxicity. This study provides insight into spatiotemporal variability of FPW composition and illustrates the difficulty in predicting aquatic risk associated with FPW.
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Affiliation(s)
- Connor B Stewart
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.
| | - Hannah M Lowes
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
| | - W Tyler Mehler
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
| | - Katherine N Snihur
- Department of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
| | - Shannon L Flynn
- Department of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada; School of Natural and Environmental Sciences, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom
| | - Daniel S Alessi
- Department of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
| | - Tamzin A Blewett
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
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7
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Farnan J, Vanden Heuvel JP, Dorman FL, Warner NR, Burgos WD. Toxicity and chemical composition of commercial road palliatives versus oil and gas produced waters. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2023; 334:122184. [PMID: 37453689 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2023.122184] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2023] [Revised: 07/07/2023] [Accepted: 07/10/2023] [Indexed: 07/18/2023]
Abstract
Across the United States, road palliatives are applied to roads for maintenance operations that improve road safety. In the winter, solid rock salts and brine solutions are used to reduce the accumulation of snow and ice, while in the summer, dust suppressants are used to minimize fugitive dust emissions. Many of these products are chloride-based salts that have been linked to freshwater salinization, toxicity to aquatic organisms, and damage to infrastructure. To minimize these impacts, organic products have been gaining attention, though their widespread adoption has been limited due to their higher cost. In some states, using produced water from conventionally drilled oil and gas wells (OGPWs) on roads is permitted as a cost-effective alternative to commercial products, despite its typically elevated concentrations of heavy metals, radioactivity, and organic micropollutants. In this study, 17 road palliatives used for winter and summer road maintenance were collected and their chemical composition and potential human toxicity were characterized. Results from this study demonstrated that liquid brine solutions had elevated levels of trace metals (Zn, Cu, Sr, Li) that could pose risks to human and environmental health. The radium activity of liquid calcium chloride products was comparable to the activity of OGPWs and could be a significant source of radium to the environment. The organic fractions of evaluated OGPWs and chloride-based products posed little risk to human health. However, organic-based dust suppressants regulated toxicity pathways related to xenobiotic metabolism, lipid metabolism, endocrine disruption, and oxidative stress, indicating their use could lead to environmental harm and health risks to operators handing these products and residents living near treated roads.
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Affiliation(s)
- James Farnan
- Civil and Environmental Engineering, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, 16802, USA.
| | - John P Vanden Heuvel
- Department of Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA ,16802, USA; INDIGO Biosciences, Inc., 3006 Research Drive, Suite A1, PA, 16801, USA.
| | - Frank L Dorman
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA ,16802, USA.
| | - Nathaniel R Warner
- Civil and Environmental Engineering, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, 16802, USA.
| | - William D Burgos
- Civil and Environmental Engineering, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, 16802, USA.
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8
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Zhang H, Han X, Wang G, Mao H, Chen X, Zhou L, Huang D, Zhang F, Yan X. Spatial distribution and driving factors of groundwater chemistry and pollution in an oil production region in the Northwest China. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2023; 875:162635. [PMID: 36889386 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.162635] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/05/2022] [Revised: 02/28/2023] [Accepted: 03/01/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Concerns have been raised on the deterioration of groundwater quality associated with anthropogenic impacts such as oil extraction and overuse of fertilizers. However, it is still difficult to identify groundwater chemistry/pollution and driving forces in regional scale since both natural and anthropogenic factors are spatially complex. This study, combining self-organizing map (SOM, combined with K-means algorithm) and principal component analysis (PCA), attempted to characterize the spatial variability and driving factors of shallow groundwater hydrochemistry in Yan'an area of Northwest China where diverse land use types (e.g., various oil production sites and agriculture lands) coexist. Based on the major and trace elements (e.g., Ba, Sr, Br, Li) and total petroleum hydrocarbons (TPH), groundwater samples were classified into four clusters with obvious geographical and hydrochemical characteristics by using SOM - K-means clustering: heavily oil-contaminated groundwater (Cluster 1), slightly oil-contaminated groundwater (Cluster 2), least-polluted groundwater (Cluster 3) and NO3- contaminated groundwater (Cluster 4). Noteworthily, Cluster 1, located in a river valley with long-term oil exploitation, had the highest levels of TPH and potentially toxic elements (Ba, Sr). Multivariate analysis combined with ion ratios analysis were used to determine the causes of these clusters. The results revealed that the hydrochemical compositions in Cluster 1 were mainly caused by the oil-related produced water intrusion into the upper aquifer. The elevated NO3- concentrations in Cluster 4 were induced by agricultural activities. Water-rock interactions (e.g., carbonate as well as silicate dissolution and precipitation) also shaped the chemical constituents of groundwater in clusters 2, 3, and 4. In addition, SO42--related processes (redox, precipitation of sulfate minerals) also affected groundwater chemical compositions in Cluster 1. This work provides the insight into the driving factors of groundwater chemistry and pollution which could contribute to groundwater sustainable management and protection in this area and other oil extraction areas.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hongyu Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Biogeology and Environmental Geology & MOE Key Laboratory of Groundwater Circulation and Environmental Evolution, China University of Geosciences, Beijing 100083, PR China; School of Water Resources and Environment, China University of Geosciences, Beijing 100083, PR China
| | - Xu Han
- Geology Institute of China Chemical Geology and Mine Bureau, Beijing 100028, China
| | - Guangcai Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Biogeology and Environmental Geology & MOE Key Laboratory of Groundwater Circulation and Environmental Evolution, China University of Geosciences, Beijing 100083, PR China; School of Water Resources and Environment, China University of Geosciences, Beijing 100083, PR China.
| | - Hairu Mao
- State Key Laboratory of Biogeology and Environmental Geology & MOE Key Laboratory of Groundwater Circulation and Environmental Evolution, China University of Geosciences, Beijing 100083, PR China; School of Water Resources and Environment, China University of Geosciences, Beijing 100083, PR China
| | - Xianglong Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Biogeology and Environmental Geology & MOE Key Laboratory of Groundwater Circulation and Environmental Evolution, China University of Geosciences, Beijing 100083, PR China; School of Water Resources and Environment, China University of Geosciences, Beijing 100083, PR China
| | - Ling Zhou
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Urban Hydrological Cycle and Sponge City Technology, College of Water Sciences, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, PR China
| | - Dandan Huang
- School of Water Resources & Environment Engineering, East China University of Technology, Nanchang, Jiangxi 330013, PR China
| | - Fan Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Biogeology and Environmental Geology & MOE Key Laboratory of Groundwater Circulation and Environmental Evolution, China University of Geosciences, Beijing 100083, PR China; School of Water Resources and Environment, China University of Geosciences, Beijing 100083, PR China
| | - Xin Yan
- State Key Laboratory of Biogeology and Environmental Geology & MOE Key Laboratory of Groundwater Circulation and Environmental Evolution, China University of Geosciences, Beijing 100083, PR China; School of Water Resources and Environment, China University of Geosciences, Beijing 100083, PR China
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9
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Zhong C, Hou D, Liu B, Zhu S, Wei T, Gehman J, Alessi DS, Qian PY. Water footprint of shale gas development in China in the carbon neutral era. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT 2023; 331:117238. [PMID: 36681031 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2023.117238] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2022] [Revised: 11/18/2022] [Accepted: 01/04/2023] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
The production of shale gas in China has repercussions for the global energy landscape and carbon neutrality. However, limited and threatened water resources may hinder the expansion of shale-derived natural gas, one of China's most promising development prospects. Coupling historical trends with policy guidance, we project that baseline water stress will intensify in two-thirds of China's provinces in the next decade. By 2035, annual water use for shale gas hydraulic fracturing activities is likely to increase to 16-35 million m3, with 13.8-23.7 million m3 of wastewater produced annually to extract 38-48 billion m3 of gas from ∼4800 shale gas wells. Analysis suggests that this projection is based on previously underestimated geological constraints (e.g., deep continental facies) in shale gas development in China. Nevertheless, forecasts suggest that the water footprint of shale development will become impossible to ignore, particularly in drought-stricken areas, indicating the potential risk of competition for water among shale development, domestic use, food production, and ecological protection. Meanwhile, the annual wastewater management market will increase to $0.2 billion by 2035. Our study suggests a critical need to direct attention to the (shale) energy-water nexus and develop multi-pronged policies to facilitate China's transition to carbon neutrality.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cheng Zhong
- Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Guangzhou), Guangzhou, China; Department of Ocean Science, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, China.
| | - Deyi Hou
- School of Environment, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
| | - Baicang Liu
- Key Laboratory of Deep Earth Science and Engineering (Ministry of Education), Institute for Disaster Management and Reconstruction, College of Architecture and Environment, Institute of New Energy and Low-Carbon Technology, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Songbai Zhu
- Kela Oil and Gas Development Department of Tarim Oilfield Branch of CNPC, Korla, Xinjiang, 841000, China
| | - Tong Wei
- Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Guangzhou), Guangzhou, China; Department of Ocean Science, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, China
| | - Joel Gehman
- Department of Strategic Management and Public Policy, George Washington University, Washington, DC, USA
| | - Daniel S Alessi
- Department of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
| | - Pei-Yuan Qian
- Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Guangzhou), Guangzhou, China; Department of Ocean Science, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, China.
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10
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Landrigan PJ, Raps H, Cropper M, Bald C, Brunner M, Canonizado EM, Charles D, Chiles TC, Donohue MJ, Enck J, Fenichel P, Fleming LE, Ferrier-Pages C, Fordham R, Gozt A, Griffin C, Hahn ME, Haryanto B, Hixson R, Ianelli H, James BD, Kumar P, Laborde A, Law KL, Martin K, Mu J, Mulders Y, Mustapha A, Niu J, Pahl S, Park Y, Pedrotti ML, Pitt JA, Ruchirawat M, Seewoo BJ, Spring M, Stegeman JJ, Suk W, Symeonides C, Takada H, Thompson RC, Vicini A, Wang Z, Whitman E, Wirth D, Wolff M, Yousuf AK, Dunlop S. The Minderoo-Monaco Commission on Plastics and Human Health. Ann Glob Health 2023; 89:23. [PMID: 36969097 PMCID: PMC10038118 DOI: 10.5334/aogh.4056] [Citation(s) in RCA: 53] [Impact Index Per Article: 53.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/14/2023] [Accepted: 02/14/2023] [Indexed: 03/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Plastics have conveyed great benefits to humanity and made possible some of the most significant advances of modern civilization in fields as diverse as medicine, electronics, aerospace, construction, food packaging, and sports. It is now clear, however, that plastics are also responsible for significant harms to human health, the economy, and the earth's environment. These harms occur at every stage of the plastic life cycle, from extraction of the coal, oil, and gas that are its main feedstocks through to ultimate disposal into the environment. The extent of these harms not been systematically assessed, their magnitude not fully quantified, and their economic costs not comprehensively counted. Goals The goals of this Minderoo-Monaco Commission on Plastics and Human Health are to comprehensively examine plastics' impacts across their life cycle on: (1) human health and well-being; (2) the global environment, especially the ocean; (3) the economy; and (4) vulnerable populations-the poor, minorities, and the world's children. On the basis of this examination, the Commission offers science-based recommendations designed to support development of a Global Plastics Treaty, protect human health, and save lives. Report Structure This Commission report contains seven Sections. Following an Introduction, Section 2 presents a narrative review of the processes involved in plastic production, use, and disposal and notes the hazards to human health and the environment associated with each of these stages. Section 3 describes plastics' impacts on the ocean and notes the potential for plastic in the ocean to enter the marine food web and result in human exposure. Section 4 details plastics' impacts on human health. Section 5 presents a first-order estimate of plastics' health-related economic costs. Section 6 examines the intersection between plastic, social inequity, and environmental injustice. Section 7 presents the Commission's findings and recommendations. Plastics Plastics are complex, highly heterogeneous, synthetic chemical materials. Over 98% of plastics are produced from fossil carbon- coal, oil and gas. Plastics are comprised of a carbon-based polymer backbone and thousands of additional chemicals that are incorporated into polymers to convey specific properties such as color, flexibility, stability, water repellence, flame retardation, and ultraviolet resistance. Many of these added chemicals are highly toxic. They include carcinogens, neurotoxicants and endocrine disruptors such as phthalates, bisphenols, per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), brominated flame retardants, and organophosphate flame retardants. They are integral components of plastic and are responsible for many of plastics' harms to human health and the environment.Global plastic production has increased almost exponentially since World War II, and in this time more than 8,300 megatons (Mt) of plastic have been manufactured. Annual production volume has grown from under 2 Mt in 1950 to 460 Mt in 2019, a 230-fold increase, and is on track to triple by 2060. More than half of all plastic ever made has been produced since 2002. Single-use plastics account for 35-40% of current plastic production and represent the most rapidly growing segment of plastic manufacture.Explosive recent growth in plastics production reflects a deliberate pivot by the integrated multinational fossil-carbon corporations that produce coal, oil and gas and that also manufacture plastics. These corporations are reducing their production of fossil fuels and increasing plastics manufacture. The two principal factors responsible for this pivot are decreasing global demand for carbon-based fuels due to increases in 'green' energy, and massive expansion of oil and gas production due to fracking.Plastic manufacture is energy-intensive and contributes significantly to climate change. At present, plastic production is responsible for an estimated 3.7% of global greenhouse gas emissions, more than the contribution of Brazil. This fraction is projected to increase to 4.5% by 2060 if current trends continue unchecked. Plastic Life Cycle The plastic life cycle has three phases: production, use, and disposal. In production, carbon feedstocks-coal, gas, and oil-are transformed through energy-intensive, catalytic processes into a vast array of products. Plastic use occurs in every aspect of modern life and results in widespread human exposure to the chemicals contained in plastic. Single-use plastics constitute the largest portion of current use, followed by synthetic fibers and construction.Plastic disposal is highly inefficient, with recovery and recycling rates below 10% globally. The result is that an estimated 22 Mt of plastic waste enters the environment each year, much of it single-use plastic and are added to the more than 6 gigatons of plastic waste that have accumulated since 1950. Strategies for disposal of plastic waste include controlled and uncontrolled landfilling, open burning, thermal conversion, and export. Vast quantities of plastic waste are exported each year from high-income to low-income countries, where it accumulates in landfills, pollutes air and water, degrades vital ecosystems, befouls beaches and estuaries, and harms human health-environmental injustice on a global scale. Plastic-laden e-waste is particularly problematic. Environmental Findings Plastics and plastic-associated chemicals are responsible for widespread pollution. They contaminate aquatic (marine and freshwater), terrestrial, and atmospheric environments globally. The ocean is the ultimate destination for much plastic, and plastics are found throughout the ocean, including coastal regions, the sea surface, the deep sea, and polar sea ice. Many plastics appear to resist breakdown in the ocean and could persist in the global environment for decades. Macro- and micro-plastic particles have been identified in hundreds of marine species in all major taxa, including species consumed by humans. Trophic transfer of microplastic particles and the chemicals within them has been demonstrated. Although microplastic particles themselves (>10 µm) appear not to undergo biomagnification, hydrophobic plastic-associated chemicals bioaccumulate in marine animals and biomagnify in marine food webs. The amounts and fates of smaller microplastic and nanoplastic particles (MNPs <10 µm) in aquatic environments are poorly understood, but the potential for harm is worrying given their mobility in biological systems. Adverse environmental impacts of plastic pollution occur at multiple levels from molecular and biochemical to population and ecosystem. MNP contamination of seafood results in direct, though not well quantified, human exposure to plastics and plastic-associated chemicals. Marine plastic pollution endangers the ocean ecosystems upon which all humanity depends for food, oxygen, livelihood, and well-being. Human Health Findings Coal miners, oil workers and gas field workers who extract fossil carbon feedstocks for plastic production suffer increased mortality from traumatic injury, coal workers' pneumoconiosis, silicosis, cardiovascular disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and lung cancer. Plastic production workers are at increased risk of leukemia, lymphoma, hepatic angiosarcoma, brain cancer, breast cancer, mesothelioma, neurotoxic injury, and decreased fertility. Workers producing plastic textiles die of bladder cancer, lung cancer, mesothelioma, and interstitial lung disease at increased rates. Plastic recycling workers have increased rates of cardiovascular disease, toxic metal poisoning, neuropathy, and lung cancer. Residents of "fenceline" communities adjacent to plastic production and waste disposal sites experience increased risks of premature birth, low birth weight, asthma, childhood leukemia, cardiovascular disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and lung cancer.During use and also in disposal, plastics release toxic chemicals including additives and residual monomers into the environment and into people. National biomonitoring surveys in the USA document population-wide exposures to these chemicals. Plastic additives disrupt endocrine function and increase risk for premature births, neurodevelopmental disorders, male reproductive birth defects, infertility, obesity, cardiovascular disease, renal disease, and cancers. Chemical-laden MNPs formed through the environmental degradation of plastic waste can enter living organisms, including humans. Emerging, albeit still incomplete evidence indicates that MNPs may cause toxicity due to their physical and toxicological effects as well as by acting as vectors that transport toxic chemicals and bacterial pathogens into tissues and cells.Infants in the womb and young children are two populations at particularly high risk of plastic-related health effects. Because of the exquisite sensitivity of early development to hazardous chemicals and children's unique patterns of exposure, plastic-associated exposures are linked to increased risks of prematurity, stillbirth, low birth weight, birth defects of the reproductive organs, neurodevelopmental impairment, impaired lung growth, and childhood cancer. Early-life exposures to plastic-associated chemicals also increase the risk of multiple non-communicable diseases later in life. Economic Findings Plastic's harms to human health result in significant economic costs. We estimate that in 2015 the health-related costs of plastic production exceeded $250 billion (2015 Int$) globally, and that in the USA alone the health costs of disease and disability caused by the plastic-associated chemicals PBDE, BPA and DEHP exceeded $920 billion (2015 Int$). Plastic production results in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions equivalent to 1.96 gigatons of carbon dioxide (CO2e) annually. Using the US Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) social cost of carbon metric, we estimate the annual costs of these GHG emissions to be $341 billion (2015 Int$).These costs, large as they are, almost certainly underestimate the full economic losses resulting from plastics' negative impacts on human health and the global environment. All of plastics' economic costs-and also its social costs-are externalized by the petrochemical and plastic manufacturing industry and are borne by citizens, taxpayers, and governments in countries around the world without compensation. Social Justice Findings The adverse effects of plastics and plastic pollution on human health, the economy and the environment are not evenly distributed. They disproportionately affect poor, disempowered, and marginalized populations such as workers, racial and ethnic minorities, "fenceline" communities, Indigenous groups, women, and children, all of whom had little to do with creating the current plastics crisis and lack the political influence or the resources to address it. Plastics' harmful impacts across its life cycle are most keenly felt in the Global South, in small island states, and in disenfranchised areas in the Global North. Social and environmental justice (SEJ) principles require reversal of these inequitable burdens to ensure that no group bears a disproportionate share of plastics' negative impacts and that those who benefit economically from plastic bear their fair share of its currently externalized costs. Conclusions It is now clear that current patterns of plastic production, use, and disposal are not sustainable and are responsible for significant harms to human health, the environment, and the economy as well as for deep societal injustices.The main driver of these worsening harms is an almost exponential and still accelerating increase in global plastic production. Plastics' harms are further magnified by low rates of recovery and recycling and by the long persistence of plastic waste in the environment.The thousands of chemicals in plastics-monomers, additives, processing agents, and non-intentionally added substances-include amongst their number known human carcinogens, endocrine disruptors, neurotoxicants, and persistent organic pollutants. These chemicals are responsible for many of plastics' known harms to human and planetary health. The chemicals leach out of plastics, enter the environment, cause pollution, and result in human exposure and disease. All efforts to reduce plastics' hazards must address the hazards of plastic-associated chemicals. Recommendations To protect human and planetary health, especially the health of vulnerable and at-risk populations, and put the world on track to end plastic pollution by 2040, this Commission supports urgent adoption by the world's nations of a strong and comprehensive Global Plastics Treaty in accord with the mandate set forth in the March 2022 resolution of the United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA).International measures such as a Global Plastics Treaty are needed to curb plastic production and pollution, because the harms to human health and the environment caused by plastics, plastic-associated chemicals and plastic waste transcend national boundaries, are planetary in their scale, and have disproportionate impacts on the health and well-being of people in the world's poorest nations. Effective implementation of the Global Plastics Treaty will require that international action be coordinated and complemented by interventions at the national, regional, and local levels.This Commission urges that a cap on global plastic production with targets, timetables, and national contributions be a central provision of the Global Plastics Treaty. We recommend inclusion of the following additional provisions:The Treaty needs to extend beyond microplastics and marine litter to include all of the many thousands of chemicals incorporated into plastics.The Treaty needs to include a provision banning or severely restricting manufacture and use of unnecessary, avoidable, and problematic plastic items, especially single-use items such as manufactured plastic microbeads.The Treaty needs to include requirements on extended producer responsibility (EPR) that make fossil carbon producers, plastic producers, and the manufacturers of plastic products legally and financially responsible for the safety and end-of-life management of all the materials they produce and sell.The Treaty needs to mandate reductions in the chemical complexity of plastic products; health-protective standards for plastics and plastic additives; a requirement for use of sustainable non-toxic materials; full disclosure of all components; and traceability of components. International cooperation will be essential to implementing and enforcing these standards.The Treaty needs to include SEJ remedies at each stage of the plastic life cycle designed to fill gaps in community knowledge and advance both distributional and procedural equity.This Commission encourages inclusion in the Global Plastic Treaty of a provision calling for exploration of listing at least some plastic polymers as persistent organic pollutants (POPs) under the Stockholm Convention.This Commission encourages a strong interface between the Global Plastics Treaty and the Basel and London Conventions to enhance management of hazardous plastic waste and slow current massive exports of plastic waste into the world's least-developed countries.This Commission recommends the creation of a Permanent Science Policy Advisory Body to guide the Treaty's implementation. The main priorities of this Body would be to guide Member States and other stakeholders in evaluating which solutions are most effective in reducing plastic consumption, enhancing plastic waste recovery and recycling, and curbing the generation of plastic waste. This Body could also assess trade-offs among these solutions and evaluate safer alternatives to current plastics. It could monitor the transnational export of plastic waste. It could coordinate robust oceanic-, land-, and air-based MNP monitoring programs.This Commission recommends urgent investment by national governments in research into solutions to the global plastic crisis. This research will need to determine which solutions are most effective and cost-effective in the context of particular countries and assess the risks and benefits of proposed solutions. Oceanographic and environmental research is needed to better measure concentrations and impacts of plastics <10 µm and understand their distribution and fate in the global environment. Biomedical research is needed to elucidate the human health impacts of plastics, especially MNPs. Summary This Commission finds that plastics are both a boon to humanity and a stealth threat to human and planetary health. Plastics convey enormous benefits, but current linear patterns of plastic production, use, and disposal that pay little attention to sustainable design or safe materials and a near absence of recovery, reuse, and recycling are responsible for grave harms to health, widespread environmental damage, great economic costs, and deep societal injustices. These harms are rapidly worsening.While there remain gaps in knowledge about plastics' harms and uncertainties about their full magnitude, the evidence available today demonstrates unequivocally that these impacts are great and that they will increase in severity in the absence of urgent and effective intervention at global scale. Manufacture and use of essential plastics may continue. However, reckless increases in plastic production, and especially increases in the manufacture of an ever-increasing array of unnecessary single-use plastic products, need to be curbed.Global intervention against the plastic crisis is needed now because the costs of failure to act will be immense.
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Affiliation(s)
- Philip J. Landrigan
- Global Observatory on Planetary Health, Boston College, Chestnut Hill, MA, US
- Centre Scientifique de Monaco, Medical Biology Department, MC
| | - Hervé Raps
- Centre Scientifique de Monaco, Medical Biology Department, MC
| | - Maureen Cropper
- Economics Department, University of Maryland, College Park, US
| | - Caroline Bald
- Global Observatory on Planetary Health, Boston College, Chestnut Hill, MA, US
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Patrick Fenichel
- Université Côte d’Azur
- Centre Hospitalier, Universitaire de Nice, FR
| | - Lora E. Fleming
- European Centre for Environment and Human Health, University of Exeter Medical School, UK
| | | | | | | | - Carly Griffin
- Global Observatory on Planetary Health, Boston College, Chestnut Hill, MA, US
| | - Mark E. Hahn
- Biology Department, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, US
- Woods Hole Center for Oceans and Human Health, US
| | - Budi Haryanto
- Department of Environmental Health, Universitas Indonesia, ID
- Research Center for Climate Change, Universitas Indonesia, ID
| | - Richard Hixson
- College of Medicine and Health, University of Exeter, UK
| | - Hannah Ianelli
- Global Observatory on Planetary Health, Boston College, Chestnut Hill, MA, US
| | - Bryan D. James
- Department of Marine Chemistry and Geochemistry, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution
- Department of Biology, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, US
| | | | - Amalia Laborde
- Department of Toxicology, School of Medicine, University of the Republic, UY
| | | | - Keith Martin
- Consortium of Universities for Global Health, US
| | - Jenna Mu
- Global Observatory on Planetary Health, Boston College, Chestnut Hill, MA, US
| | | | - Adetoun Mustapha
- Nigerian Institute of Medical Research, Lagos, Nigeria
- Lead City University, NG
| | - Jia Niu
- Department of Chemistry, Boston College, US
| | - Sabine Pahl
- University of Vienna, Austria
- University of Plymouth, UK
| | | | - Maria-Luiza Pedrotti
- Laboratoire d’Océanographie de Villefranche sur mer (LOV), Sorbonne Université, FR
| | | | | | - Bhedita Jaya Seewoo
- Minderoo Foundation, AU
- School of Biological Sciences, The University of Western Australia, AU
| | | | - John J. Stegeman
- Biology Department and Woods Hole Center for Oceans and Human Health, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, US
| | - William Suk
- Superfund Research Program, National Institutes of Health, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, US
| | | | - Hideshige Takada
- Laboratory of Organic Geochemistry (LOG), Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology, JP
| | | | | | - Zhanyun Wang
- Technology and Society Laboratory, WEmpa-Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials and Technology, CH
| | - Ella Whitman
- Global Observatory on Planetary Health, Boston College, Chestnut Hill, MA, US
| | | | | | - Aroub K. Yousuf
- Global Observatory on Planetary Health, Boston College, Chestnut Hill, MA, US
| | - Sarah Dunlop
- Minderoo Foundation, AU
- School of Biological Sciences, The University of Western Australia, AU
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Shi H, He X, Zhou C, Wang L, Xiao Y. Hydrochemistry, Sources and Management of Fracturing Flowback Fluid in Tight Sandstone Gasfield in Sulige Gasfield (China). ARCHIVES OF ENVIRONMENTAL CONTAMINATION AND TOXICOLOGY 2023; 84:284-298. [PMID: 36737498 DOI: 10.1007/s00244-023-00983-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/11/2022] [Accepted: 01/10/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Hydraulic fracturing technologies have been frequently utilized in the oil and gas industry as exploration and development efforts have progressed, resulting in a significant increase in the extraction of natural gas and petroleum from low-permeability reservoirs. However, hydraulic fracturing requires a large amount of freshwater, and the process results in the production of large volumes of flowback water along with natural gas. In this study, three tight sandstone gas wells were fractured in the Sulige gasfield (China), and a total of 103 flowback fluid samples were collected. The hydrochemical characteristics, water quality and sources of hydrochemical components in the flowback fluid were discussed. The results show that the flowback fluid is characterized by high salinity (Total dissolved solids (TDS) up to 38,268 mg/L, Cl- up to 24,000 mg/L), high concentrations of metal ions (e.g., Fe, Sr2+, Ba2+) and high chemical oxygen demand (COD). The flowback fluid is a complex mixture of fracturing fluid and formation water, and its composition is impacted by water-rock interactions that occur during hydraulic fracturing. The major contaminants include COD, Fe, Ba2+, Cl-, Mn and pH, which constitute a high risk of environmental pollution. Meanwhile, chemical elements such as K, Ba and Sr are unusually enriched in the flowback fluid, which has an excellent potential for recycle of chemical elements. The Sulige gasfield's flowback fluid recovery methods and treatment scenarios were discussed, taking into consideration the pollution and resource characteristics of the flowback fluid. Options for dealing with the flowback fluid include deep well reinjection, reuse for making up fracturing fluid, recycling of chemical elements and diverse reuse of flowback water. This research offers guidance for managing the fracturing flowback fluid in unconventional oil and gas fields.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hua Shi
- Oil and Gas Technology Research Institute of Changqing Oilfield Company, PetroChina, Xi'an, 710018, Shaanxi, China
| | - Xiaodong He
- School of Water and Environment, Chang'an University, No. 126 Yanta Road, Xi'an, 710054, Shaanxi, China.
- Key Laboratory of Subsurface Hydrology and Ecological Effects in Arid Region of the Ministry of Education, Chang'an University, No. 126 Yanta Road, Xi'an, 710054, Shaanxi, China.
- Key Laboratory of Eco-Hydrology and Water Security in Arid and Semi-Arid Regions of the Ministry of Water Resources, Chang'an University, No. 126 Yanta Road, Xi'an, 710054, Shaanxi, China.
| | - Changjing Zhou
- Oil and Gas Technology Research Institute of Changqing Oilfield Company, PetroChina, Xi'an, 710018, Shaanxi, China
| | - Lili Wang
- Oil and Gas Technology Research Institute of Changqing Oilfield Company, PetroChina, Xi'an, 710018, Shaanxi, China
| | - Yuanxiang Xiao
- Oil and Gas Technology Research Institute of Changqing Oilfield Company, PetroChina, Xi'an, 710018, Shaanxi, China
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Wang Y, Li B, Yang G. Stream water quality optimized prediction based on human activity intensity and landscape metrics with regional heterogeneity in Taihu Basin, China. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2023; 30:4986-5004. [PMID: 35978234 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-022-22536-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/05/2022] [Accepted: 08/10/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
The driving effects of landscape metrics on water quality have been acknowledged widely, however, the guiding significance of human activity intensity and landscape metrics based on reference conditions for water environment management remains to be explored. Thus, we used the self-organized map, long- and short-term memory (LSTM) algorithm, and geographic detectors to simulate the response of human activity intensity and landscape metrics to water quality in Taihu Lake Basin, China. Fitting results of LSTM displayed that the accuracy was acceptable, and scenario 2 (regional heterogeneity) was more efficient than scenario 1 (regional consistent) in the improvement of water quality. In the driving analysis for the reference conditions, clusters I and II (urban agglomeration areas) were mainly affected by the amount of production wastewater per unit of developed land and the amount of livelihood wastewater per unit of developed land, respectively. Their optimal values were 0.09 × 103 t/km2 (reduction of 35.71%) and 0.2 × 103 t/km2 (reduction of 4.76%). Cluster III (agricultural production areas) was mainly affected by interference intensity, and the optimal value was 2.17 (increased 38.22%), and cluster IV (ecological forest areas) was mainly affected by the fragmentation of cropland, and the optimal value was 1.14 (reduction of 1.72%). The research provides a reference for the prediction of water quality response and presents an ecological and economic sustainability way for watershed governance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ya'nan Wang
- Key Laboratory of Watershed Geographic Sciences, Nanjing Institute of Geography and Limnology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Nanjing, 210008, China
- College of Resources and Environment, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
- College of Nanjing, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Nanjing, 211135, China
| | - Bing Li
- Key Laboratory of Watershed Geographic Sciences, Nanjing Institute of Geography and Limnology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Nanjing, 210008, China
- College of Resources and Environment, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
- College of Nanjing, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Nanjing, 211135, China
| | - Guishan Yang
- Key Laboratory of Watershed Geographic Sciences, Nanjing Institute of Geography and Limnology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Nanjing, 210008, China.
- College of Resources and Environment, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China.
- College of Nanjing, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Nanjing, 211135, China.
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Willems DJ, Kumar A, Nugegoda D. The Acute Toxicity of Salinity in Onshore Unconventional Gas Waters to Freshwater Invertebrates in Receiving Environments: A Systematic Review. ENVIRONMENTAL TOXICOLOGY AND CHEMISTRY 2022; 41:2928-2949. [PMID: 36193756 PMCID: PMC9828407 DOI: 10.1002/etc.5492] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2022] [Revised: 05/12/2022] [Accepted: 09/28/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Industries such as unconventional natural gas have seen increased global expansion to meet the increasing energy needs of our increasing global population. Unconventional gas uses hydraulic fracturing that produces significant volumes of produced waters, which can be highly saline and pose a toxic threat to freshwater invertebrates if exposure via discharges, spills, leaks, or runoff were to occur. The primary aim of the present review was to determine the sodium (Na+ ) and chloride (Cl- ) content of these waters as an approximate measure of salinity and how these values compare to the NaCl or synthetic marine salt acute toxicity values of freshwater invertebrate taxa. Shale gas produced waters are much more saline with 78 900 ± 10 200 NaCl mg/L and total dissolved solids (TDS) of 83 200 ± 12 200 mg/L compared to coal bed methane (CBM) produced waters with 4300 ± 1100 NaCl mg/L and TDS of 5900 ± 1300 mg/L and pose a far greater toxicity risk from NaCl to freshwater invertebrates. In addition, the toxicity of other major ions (Ca2+ , K+ , Mg2+ , CO 3 2 - , HCO3 - , and SO 4 2 - ) and their influence on the toxicity of Na+ and Cl- were evaluated. Exposure of untreated and undiluted shale gas produced waters to freshwater invertebrates is likely to result in significant or complete mortality. Shale gas produced waters have higher concentrations of various metals compared with CBM produced waters and are more acidic. We recommend future research to increase the reporting and consistency of water quality parameters, metals, and particularly organics of produced waters to provide a better baseline and help in further investigations. Environ Toxicol Chem 2022;41:2928-2949. © 2022 The Authors. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of SETAC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel J. Willems
- Ecotoxicology Research Group, School of ScienceRMIT UniversityBundooraVictoriaAustralia
- CSIRO Land and WaterUrrbraeSouth AustraliaAustralia
| | | | - Dayanthi Nugegoda
- Ecotoxicology Research Group, School of ScienceRMIT UniversityBundooraVictoriaAustralia
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Facile Fabrication of Super-wettable Mesh Membrane using Locally-Synthesized Cobalt Oxide Nanoparticles and Their Application in Efficient Gravity Driven Oil/Water Separation. Colloids Surf A Physicochem Eng Asp 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.colsurfa.2022.130793] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
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Li L, Wu F, Cao Y, Cheng F, Wang D, Li H, Yu Z, You J. Sustainable development index of shale gas exploitation in China, the UK, and the US. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND ECOTECHNOLOGY 2022; 12:100202. [PMID: 36157342 PMCID: PMC9500373 DOI: 10.1016/j.ese.2022.100202] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/25/2022] [Revised: 07/20/2022] [Accepted: 07/20/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
While shale gas could complement the world's natural gas supply, its environmental tradeoffs and sustainability potential should be cautiously assessed before using it to satisfy future energy needs. Shale gas development in China is still in its infancy but has been progressing by the Central Government at a fast pace nowadays. Advanced experience from North America would greatly benefit sustainable design and decision-making for energy development in China. However, the lack of consistency concerning internal and external parameters among previous investigations does not allow an integrated impact comparison among shale gas-rich countries. Herein, we applied a meta-analysis to harmonize environmental tradeoff data through a comprehensive literature review. Greenhouse gas emission, water consumption, and energy demand were selected as environmental tradeoff indicators during shale gas production. Data harmonization suggested that environmental tradeoffs ranged from 5.6 to 37.4 g CO2-eq, 11.0-119.7 mL water, and 0.027-0.127 MJ energy to produce 1 MJ shale gas worldwide. Furthermore, sustainable development indexes (SDIs) for shale gas exploitation in China were analyzed and compared to the United States and the United Kingdom by considering environment, economy, and social demand through an analytic hierarchy process. The United States and China elicit higher SDIs than the United Kingdom, indicating higher feasibility for shale gas exploitation. Although China has relatively low scores in the environmental aspect, large reservoirs and high future market demand make Chinese shale gas favorable in the social demand aspect. Region-specific SDI characteristics identified among representative countries could improve the sustainability potential of regional development and global energy supply.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liang Li
- Guangdong Key Laboratory of Environmental Pollution and Health, School of Environment, Jinan University, Guangzhou, 511443, China
| | - Fan Wu
- Guangdong Key Laboratory of Environmental Pollution and Health, School of Environment, Jinan University, Guangzhou, 511443, China
- Institute for Low Carbon and Sustainable Development, Jinan University, Guangzhou, 511443, China
| | - Yuanyu Cao
- Guangdong Key Laboratory of Environmental Pollution and Health, School of Environment, Jinan University, Guangzhou, 511443, China
| | - Fei Cheng
- Guangdong Key Laboratory of Environmental Pollution and Health, School of Environment, Jinan University, Guangzhou, 511443, China
| | - Dali Wang
- Guangdong Key Laboratory of Environmental Pollution and Health, School of Environment, Jinan University, Guangzhou, 511443, China
| | - Huizhen Li
- Guangdong Key Laboratory of Environmental Pollution and Health, School of Environment, Jinan University, Guangzhou, 511443, China
| | - Zhiqiang Yu
- State Key Laboratory of Organic Geochemistry, Guangzhou Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, 510640, China
| | - Jing You
- Guangdong Key Laboratory of Environmental Pollution and Health, School of Environment, Jinan University, Guangzhou, 511443, China
- Institute for Low Carbon and Sustainable Development, Jinan University, Guangzhou, 511443, China
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McDevitt B, Jubb AM, Varonka MS, Blondes MS, Engle MA, Gallegos TJ, Shelton JL. Dissolved organic matter within oil and gas associated wastewaters from U.S. unconventional petroleum plays: Comparisons and consequences for disposal and reuse. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2022; 838:156331. [PMID: 35640759 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.156331] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2022] [Revised: 05/25/2022] [Accepted: 05/25/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Wastewater generated during petroleum extraction (produced water) may contain high concentrations of dissolved organics due to their intimate association with organic-rich source rocks, expelled petroleum, and organic additives to fluids used for hydraulic fracturing of unconventional (e.g., shale) reservoirs. Dissolved organic matter (DOM) within produced water represents a challenge for treatment prior to beneficial reuse. High salinities characteristic of produced water, often 10× greater than seawater, coupled to the complex DOM ensemble create analytical obstacles with typical methods. Excitation-emission matrix spectroscopy (EEMS) can rapidly characterize the fluorescent component of DOM with little impact from matrix effects. We applied EEMS to evaluate DOM composition in 18 produced water samples from six North American unconventional petroleum plays. Represented reservoirs include the Eagle Ford Shale (Gulf Coast Basin), Wolfcamp/Cline Shales (Permian Basin), Marcellus Shale and Utica/Point Pleasant (Appalachian Basin), Niobrara Chalk (Denver-Julesburg Basin), and the Bakken Formation (Williston Basin). Results indicate that the relative chromophoric DOM composition in unconventional produced water may distinguish different lithologies, thermal maturity of resource types (e.g., heavy oil vs. dry gas), and fracturing fluid compositions, but is generally insensitive to salinity and DOM concentration. These results are discussed with perspective toward DOM influence on geochemical processes and the potential for targeted organic compound treatment for the reuse of produced water.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bonnie McDevitt
- U.S. Geological Survey, Geology, Energy & Minerals Science Center, Reston, VA 20192, United States.
| | - Aaron M Jubb
- U.S. Geological Survey, Geology, Energy & Minerals Science Center, Reston, VA 20192, United States
| | - Matthew S Varonka
- U.S. Geological Survey, Geology, Energy & Minerals Science Center, Reston, VA 20192, United States
| | - Madalyn S Blondes
- U.S. Geological Survey, Geology, Energy & Minerals Science Center, Reston, VA 20192, United States
| | - Mark A Engle
- Department of Geological Sciences, The University of Texas at El Paso, El Paso, TX 79968, United States
| | - Tanya J Gallegos
- U.S. Geological Survey, Geology, Energy & Minerals Science Center, Reston, VA 20192, United States
| | - Jenna L Shelton
- U.S. Geological Survey, National Cooperative Geologic Mapping Program, Reston, VA 20192, United States
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17
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Liu Y, Wang J, Jung B, Rao U, Sedighi E, Hoek EMV, Tilton N, Cath TY, Turchi CS, Heeley MB, Ju YS, Jassby D. Desalinating a real hyper-saline pre-treated produced water via direct-heat vacuum membrane distillation. WATER RESEARCH 2022; 218:118503. [PMID: 35500328 DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2022.118503] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/19/2021] [Revised: 03/16/2022] [Accepted: 04/21/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Membrane distillation (MD) is an emerging thermal desalination technology capable of desalinating waters of any salinity. During typical MD processes, the saline feedwater is heated and acts as the thermal energy carrier; however, temperature polarization (as well as thermal energy loss) contributes to low distillate fluxes, low single-pass water recovery and poor thermal efficiency. An alternative approach is to integrate an extra thermal energy carrier as part of the membrane and/or module assembly, which can channel externally provided heat directly to the membrane-feedwater interface and/or along the feed channel length. This direct-heat delivery has been demonstrated to increase single-pass water recovery and enhance the overall thermal efficiency. We developed a bench-scale direct-heated vacuum MD (DHVMD) process to desalinate pre-treated oil and gas "produced water" with an initial total dissolved solids of 115,500 ppm at a feed temperature ranging between 24 and 32 °C. We evaluated both water flux and specific energy consumption (SEC) as a function of water recovery. The system achieved a 50% water recovery without significant scaling, with an average flux >6 kg m-2 hr-1 and a SEC as low as 2,530 kJ kg-1. The major species of mineral scales (i.e., NaCl, CaSO4, and SrSO4) that limited the water recovery to 68% were modeled in terms of thermodynamics and identified by scanning electron microscopy and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy. In addition, we further developed and employed a physics-based process model to estimate temperature, salinity, water transport and energy flows for full-scale vacuum MD and DHVMD modules. Model results show that a direct-heat input rate of 3,600 W can increase single-pass water recovery from 2.1% to 3.1% while lowering the thermal SEC from 7,800 kJ kg-1 to 6,517 kJ kg-1 in an unoptimized module. Finally, the scaling up potential of DHVMD process is briefly discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yiming Liu
- Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering, California NanoSystems Institute and Institute of the Environment & Sustainability, University of California Los Angeles (UCLA), Los Angeles, CA, United States
| | - Jingbo Wang
- Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering, California NanoSystems Institute and Institute of the Environment & Sustainability, University of California Los Angeles (UCLA), Los Angeles, CA, United States
| | - Bongyeon Jung
- Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering, California NanoSystems Institute and Institute of the Environment & Sustainability, University of California Los Angeles (UCLA), Los Angeles, CA, United States
| | - Unnati Rao
- Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering, California NanoSystems Institute and Institute of the Environment & Sustainability, University of California Los Angeles (UCLA), Los Angeles, CA, United States
| | - Erfan Sedighi
- Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, UCLA, Los Angeles, CA, United States
| | - Eric M V Hoek
- Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering, California NanoSystems Institute and Institute of the Environment & Sustainability, University of California Los Angeles (UCLA), Los Angeles, CA, United States; Energy Science & Distributed Resources Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA, United States
| | - Nils Tilton
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Colorado School of Mines, Golden, CO, United States
| | - Tzahi Y Cath
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Colorado School of Mines, Golden, CO, United States
| | - Craig S Turchi
- Buildings & Thermal Science Center, National Renewable Energy Laboratory, Golden, CO, United States
| | - Michael B Heeley
- Department of Economics and Business, Colorado School of Mines, Golden, CO, United States
| | - Y Sungtaek Ju
- Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, UCLA, Los Angeles, CA, United States
| | - David Jassby
- Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering, California NanoSystems Institute and Institute of the Environment & Sustainability, University of California Los Angeles (UCLA), Los Angeles, CA, United States.
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18
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Zhong C, Nesbø CL, von Gunten K, Zhang Y, Shao X, Jin R, Konhauser KO, Goss GG, Martin JW, He Y, Qian PY, Lanoil BD, Alessi DS. Complex impacts of hydraulic fracturing return fluids on soil microbial community respiration, structure, and functional potentials. Environ Microbiol 2022; 24:4108-4123. [PMID: 35416402 DOI: 10.1111/1462-2920.16009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/02/2021] [Accepted: 04/07/2022] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
The consequences of soils exposed to hydraulic fracturing (HF) return fluid, often collectively termed flowback and produced water (FPW), are poorly understood, even though soils are a common receptor of FPW spills. Here, we investigate the impacts on soil microbiota exposed to FPW collected from the Montney Formation of western Canada. We measured soil respiration, microbial community structure, and functional potentials under FPW exposure across a range of concentrations, exposure time, and soil types (luvisol and chernozem). We find that soil type governs microbial community response upon FPW exposure. Within each soil, FPW exposure led to reduced biotic soil respiration, and shifted microbial community structure and functional potentials. We detect substantially higher species richness and more unique functional genes in FPW-exposed soils than in FPW-unexposed soils, with metagenome-assembled genomes (e.g., Marinobacter persicus) from luvisol soil exposed to concentrated FPW being most similar to genomes from HF/FPW sites. Our data demonstrate the complex impacts of microbial communities following FPW exposure, and highlight the site-specific effects in evaluation of spills and agricultural reuse of FPW on the normal soil functions. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cheng Zhong
- Department of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, Faculty of Science, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, T6G 2E3, Canada.,Department of Ocean Science and Hong Kong Branch of the Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Hong Kong, China.,Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory, Guangzhou, Guangzhou, China
| | - Camilla L Nesbø
- Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, T6G 2E9, Canada
| | - Konstantin von Gunten
- Department of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, Faculty of Science, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, T6G 2E3, Canada
| | - Yifeng Zhang
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, T6G 2G3, Canada
| | - Xiaoqing Shao
- Department of Physical and Environmental Sciences, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, M1C 1A4, Canada
| | - Rong Jin
- Department of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, Faculty of Science, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, T6G 2E3, Canada
| | - Kurt O Konhauser
- Department of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, Faculty of Science, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, T6G 2E3, Canada
| | - Greg G Goss
- Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, T6G 2E9, Canada
| | - Jonathan W Martin
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, T6G 2G3, Canada
| | - Yuhe He
- School of Energy and Environment and State Key Laboratory of Marine Pollution, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Pei-Yuan Qian
- Department of Ocean Science and Hong Kong Branch of the Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Hong Kong, China.,Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory, Guangzhou, Guangzhou, China
| | - Brian D Lanoil
- Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, T6G 2E9, Canada
| | - Daniel S Alessi
- Department of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, Faculty of Science, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, T6G 2E3, Canada
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19
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Nazal MK, Ditta M, Gijjapu D, Abuzaid N. Treatment of water contaminated with petroleum hydrocarbons using a biochar derived from seagrass biomass as low-cost adsorbent: isotherm, kinetics and reusability studies. SEP SCI TECHNOL 2022. [DOI: 10.1080/01496395.2022.2058550] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/07/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Mazen Khaled Nazal
- Applied Research Center for Environment & Marine Studies, Research Institute, King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals, Dhahran, Saudi Arabia
| | - Muhammad Ditta
- Applied Research Center for Environment & Marine Studies, Research Institute, King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals, Dhahran, Saudi Arabia
| | - Durga Gijjapu
- Applied Research Center for Environment & Marine Studies, Research Institute, King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals, Dhahran, Saudi Arabia
| | - Nabeel Abuzaid
- Applied Research Center for Environment & Marine Studies, Research Institute, King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals, Dhahran, Saudi Arabia
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20
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Chen L, Xu P, Wang H. Photocatalytic membrane reactors for produced water treatment and reuse: Fundamentals, affecting factors, rational design, and evaluation metrics. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2022; 424:127493. [PMID: 34879511 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2021.127493] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/27/2021] [Revised: 10/02/2021] [Accepted: 10/09/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Treatment and reuse of produced water (PW), the largest wastewater stream generated during oil and gas production, provides a promising option to address the increasing clean water demands. High-performance treatment technologies are needed to efficiently remove the organic and inorganic contaminants in PW for fit-for-purpose applications. Photocatalytic membrane reactor (PMR) is an emerging green technology for removal of organic pollutants, photoreduction of heavy metals, photo-inactivation of bacteria, and resource recovery. This study critically reviewed the mechanisms of photocatalysis and membrane processes in PMR, factors affecting PMR performance, rational design, and evaluation metrics for PW treatment. Specifically, PW characteristics, photocatalysts properties, membranes applied, and operating conditions are of utmost importance for rational design and reliable operation of PMR. PW pretreatment to remove oil and grease, colloidal and suspended solids is necessary to reduce membrane fouling and ensure optimal PMR performance. The metrics to evaluate PMR performance were developed including light utilization, exergetic efficiency, water recovery, product water improvement, lifetime of the photocatalyst, and costs. This review also presented the research gaps and outlook for future research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lin Chen
- Department of Civil Engineering, New Mexico State University, Las Cruces, NM 88003, USA.
| | - Pei Xu
- Department of Civil Engineering, New Mexico State University, Las Cruces, NM 88003, USA.
| | - Huiyao Wang
- Department of Civil Engineering, New Mexico State University, Las Cruces, NM 88003, USA.
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21
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Mallants D, Kirby J, Golding L, Apte S, Williams M. Modelling the attenuation of flowback chemicals for a soil-groundwater pathway from a hypothetical spill accident. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2022; 806:150686. [PMID: 34600996 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.150686] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/16/2021] [Revised: 09/21/2021] [Accepted: 09/26/2021] [Indexed: 05/12/2023]
Abstract
Flowback water from shale gas operations contains formation-derived compounds, including trace metals, radionuclides, and organics. While accidental releases from storage tanks with flowback water are low-probability events if multiple containment barriers are put in place, they cannot be entirely excluded. Here the natural attenuation potential of deep unsaturated zones and groundwater was explored using predictive modelling involving a hypothetical leak from a storage tank. Actual chemical concentrations from flowback water at two shale gas wells with contrasting salinity (12,300 and 105,000 ppm TDS) in the Beetaloo Sub-basin (Northern Territory, Australia) served as input to the one-dimensional HYDRUS model for simulating chemical transport through the unsaturated zone, with groundwater at 50 and 100 m depth, respectively. Subsequent chemical transport in groundwater involved the use of a three-dimensional analytical transport model. For a total of 63 chemicals the long-term attenuation from dilution and dispersion in unsaturated sediments and groundwater was calculated. Predicted environmental concentrations for aquatic receptors were compared with no-effect levels of individual chemicals to derive risk quotients (RQ) and identify chemicals of no concern to ecosystem health (i.e. RQ <1). Except for salinity and radium-228 in one of the two wells, RQ < 1 for all other chemicals. The initial approach considered testing of toxicity to individual chemicals only. When direct toxicity assessments (DTAs) were used to account for effects of chemical mixtures, the required DTA-derived safe dilution factor for 95% species protection was 1.8 to 2.5 times higher than the dilution factor accounting for dispersion and dilution only. Accounting for biodegradation, sorption and radioactive decay decreased chemical concentrations in unsaturated sediments to safe levels using the DTA for all chemicals. The study highlighted the importance of incorporating DTA in chemical risk assessments involving complex chemical mixtures. Improved understanding of fate and transport of flowback chemicals will help effectively manage water-quality risks associated with shale gas extraction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dirk Mallants
- CSIRO, Waite Road Gate 4, Urrbrae, SA 5064, Australia.
| | - Jason Kirby
- CSIRO, Waite Road Gate 4, Urrbrae, SA 5064, Australia
| | - Lisa Golding
- CSIRO, New Illawarra Road, Lucas Heights, NSW 2234, Australia
| | - Simon Apte
- CSIRO, New Illawarra Road, Lucas Heights, NSW 2234, Australia
| | - Mike Williams
- CSIRO, Waite Road Gate 4, Urrbrae, SA 5064, Australia
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22
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Stallworth AM, Chase EH, McDevitt B, Marak KK, Freedman MA, Wilson RT, Burgos WD, Warner NR. Efficacy of oil and gas produced water as a dust suppressant. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2021; 799:149347. [PMID: 34426301 PMCID: PMC8530883 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.149347] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/20/2020] [Revised: 06/09/2021] [Accepted: 07/26/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
The effectiveness of oil and gas produced water (OGPW) applied to unpaved roads to reduce particulate matter (PM10) generation has not been well-characterized. Here we quantify the efficacy of OGPW compared to commercial and alternative byproducts as dust suppressants applied to unpaved roads and estimate efficacy of a dust suppressant extrapolated from both lab experiments and published data for OGPW across U.S. states. Both treated and untreated OGPW, simulated brines, and commercial dust suppressants were characterized by major and trace element composition and then applied to road aggregate in the laboratory. PM10 generation after treatment was quantified, both before and after simulated rain events to assess the need for multiple applications. We found the dust suppression efficacy of all OGPW to be less than commercial products and alternative byproducts such as waste soybean oil. In addition, OGPW lost efficacy following simulated rain events, which would require repeated applications of OGPW to maintain dust suppression. The dust suppression efficacy of OGPW can be estimated based on two chemical measurements, the sodium absorption ratio (SAR) and the total dissolved solids (TDS). OGPW with the lowest SAR and highest TDS performed best as dust suppressants while high SAR and lower TDS led to greater dust generation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Audrey M Stallworth
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Penn State University, University Park, PA 16802, United States.
| | - Eric H Chase
- Center for Dirt and Gravel Road Studies, Larson Transportation Institute, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Penn State University, University Park, PA 16802, United States.
| | - Bonnie McDevitt
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Penn State University, University Park, PA 16802, United States.
| | - Katherine K Marak
- Department of Chemistry, Penn State University, University Park, PA 16802, United States.
| | - Miriam Arak Freedman
- Department of Chemistry, Penn State University, University Park, PA 16802, United States; Department of Meteorology and Atmospheric Science, Penn State University, University Park, PA 16802, United States.
| | - Robin Taylor Wilson
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Temple University College of Public Health, Philadelphia, PA 19122, United States.
| | - William D Burgos
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Penn State University, University Park, PA 16802, United States.
| | - Nathaniel R Warner
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Penn State University, University Park, PA 16802, United States.
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23
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Rastogi S, Ratna S, Kumar R. Screening of Biosurfactant Producing Bacteria Isolated from Hydrocarbon Contaminated Site and Their Potential in Biosorption of Pb(II) and Oil Biodegradation. TENSIDE SURFACT DET 2021. [DOI: 10.1515/tsd-2020-2341] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Abstract
In the present study, three potentially Pb(II)-resistant and biosurfactant-producing bacterial strains were isolated from a total of 23 strains using various screening methods, investigated for their biosorption of Pb(II) and used for the biodegradation of used motor oil. The results show that strain E1 (Bacillus haynesii) has significantly high efficiency in biodegradation of used motor oil, up to 82 % in the first three days. Maximum Pb(II) biosorption capacities of 238.09 mg/g and 99.01 mg/g were determined for strains E1 and F5 (Pseudomonas aeruginosa), respectively. The biosorption process was found to be in good agreement with the Langmuir isotherm for both E1 (R2 = 0.9614) and F5 (R2 = 0.9646), suggesting monolayer biosorption. The four common screening methods, namely the haemolytic assay, the determination of surface tension, the emulsifying activity and the foam test, were also correlated with the Pearson correlation method.
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24
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Tornabene BJ, Breuner CW, Hossack BR. Comparative Effects of Energy-Related Saline Wastewaters and Sodium Chloride on Hatching, Survival, and Fitness-Associated Traits of Two Amphibian Species. ENVIRONMENTAL TOXICOLOGY AND CHEMISTRY 2021; 40:3137-3147. [PMID: 34407239 DOI: 10.1002/etc.5193] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/14/2021] [Revised: 06/05/2021] [Accepted: 08/12/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Salinity (sodium chloride [NaCl]) is a prevalent and persistent contaminant that negatively affects freshwater ecosystems. Although most studies focus on effects of salinity from road salts (primarily NaCl), high-salinity wastewaters from energy extraction (wastewaters) could be more harmful because they contain NaCl and other toxic components. Many amphibians are sensitive to salinity, and their eggs are thought to be the most sensitive life-history stage. However, there are few investigations with salinity that include eggs and larvae sequentially in long-term exposures. We investigated the relative effects of wastewaters from a large energy reserve, the Williston Basin (USA), and NaCl on northern leopard (Rana pipiens) and boreal chorus (Pseudacris maculata) frogs. We exposed eggs and tracked responses through larval stages (for 24 days). Wastewaters and NaCl caused similar reductions in hatching and larval survival, growth, development, and activity, while also increasing deformities. Chorus frog eggs and larvae were more sensitive to salinity than leopard frogs, suggesting species-specific responses. Contrary to previous studies, eggs of both species were less sensitive to salinity than larvae. Our ecologically relevant exposures suggest that accumulating effects can reduce survival relative to starting experiments with unexposed larvae. Alternatively, egg casings of some species may provide some protection against salinity. Notably, effects of wastewaters on amphibians were predominantly due to NaCl rather than other components. Therefore, findings from studies with other sources of increased salinity (e.g., road salts) could guide management of wastewater-contaminated ecosystems, and vice versa, to mitigate effects of salinization. Environ Toxicol Chem 2021;40:3137-3147. © 2021 SETAC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brian J Tornabene
- Wildlife Biology Program, W. A. Franke College of Forestry & Conservation, University of Montana, Missoula, Montana, USA
| | - Creagh W Breuner
- Wildlife Biology Program, W. A. Franke College of Forestry & Conservation, University of Montana, Missoula, Montana, USA
| | - Blake R Hossack
- Wildlife Biology Program, W. A. Franke College of Forestry & Conservation, University of Montana, Missoula, Montana, USA
- Northern Rocky Mountain Science Center, US Geological Survey, Missoula, Montana, USA
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25
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Bondu R, Kloppmann W, Naumenko-Dèzes MO, Humez P, Mayer B. Potential Impacts of Shale Gas Development on Inorganic Groundwater Chemistry: Implications for Environmental Baseline Assessment in Shallow Aquifers. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2021; 55:9657-9671. [PMID: 34251200 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.1c01172] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/12/2023]
Abstract
The potential contamination of shallow groundwater with inorganic constituents is a major environmental concern associated with shale gas extraction through hydraulic fracturing. However, the impact of shale gas development on groundwater quality is a highly controversial issue. The only way to reliably assess whether groundwater quality has been impacted by shale gas development is to collect pre-development baseline data against which subsequent changes in groundwater quality can be compared. The objective of this paper is to provide a conceptual and methodological framework for establishing a baseline of inorganic groundwater quality in shale gas areas, which is becoming standard practice as a prerequisite for evaluating shale gas development impacts on shallow aquifers. For this purpose, this paper first reviews the potential sources of inorganic contaminants in shallow groundwater from shale gas areas. Then, it reviews the previous baseline studies of groundwater geochemistry in shale gas areas, showing that a comprehensive baseline assessment includes documenting the natural sources of salinity, potential geogenic contamination, and potential anthropogenic influences from legacy contamination and surface land use activities that are not related to shale gas development. Based on this knowledge, best practices are identified in terms of baseline sampling, selection of inorganic baseline parameters, and definition of threshold levels.
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Affiliation(s)
- Raphaël Bondu
- BRGM (French Geological Survey), 3 Avenue Claude-Guillemin, 45060 Orléans, France
| | - Wolfram Kloppmann
- BRGM (French Geological Survey), 3 Avenue Claude-Guillemin, 45060 Orléans, France
| | | | - Pauline Humez
- Department of Geoscience, University of Calgary, 2500 University Drive NW, Calgary, Alberta T2N 1N4, Canada
| | - Bernhard Mayer
- Department of Geoscience, University of Calgary, 2500 University Drive NW, Calgary, Alberta T2N 1N4, Canada
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26
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Schreiber ME, Cozzarelli IM. Arsenic release to the environment from hydrocarbon production, storage, transportation, use and waste management. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2021; 411:125013. [PMID: 33482508 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2020.125013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/14/2020] [Revised: 10/26/2020] [Accepted: 12/29/2020] [Indexed: 05/12/2023]
Abstract
Arsenic (As) is a toxic trace element with many sources, including hydrocarbons such as oil, natural gas, oil sands, and oil- and gas-bearing shales. Arsenic from these hydrocarbon sources can be released to the environment through human activities of hydrocarbon production, storage, transportation and use. In addition, accidental release of hydrocarbons to aquifers with naturally occurring (geogenic) As can induce mobilization of As to groundwater through biogeochemical reactions triggered by hydrocarbon biodegradation. In this paper, we review the occurrence of As in different hydrocarbons and the release of As from these sources into the environment. We also examine the occurrence of As in wastes from hydrocarbon production, including produced water and sludge. Last, we discuss the potential for As release related to waste management, including accidental or intentional releases, and recycling and reuse of these wastes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Madeline E Schreiber
- Department of Geosciences, Virginia Tech 926 W. Campus Drive, Blacksburg, VA 24061-0420, USA.
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27
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Zhong C, Zolfaghari A, Hou D, Goss GG, Lanoil BD, Gehman J, Tsang DCW, He Y, Alessi DS. Comparison of the Hydraulic Fracturing Water Cycle in China and North America: A Critical Review. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2021; 55:7167-7185. [PMID: 33970611 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.0c06119] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/12/2023]
Abstract
There is considerable debate about the sustainability of the hydraulic fracturing (HF) water cycle in North America. Recently, this debate has expanded to China, where HF activities continue to grow. Here, we provide a critical review of the HF water cycle in China, including water withdrawal practices and flowback and produced water (FPW) management and their environmental impacts, with a comprehensive comparison to the U.S. and Canada (North America). Water stress in arid regions, as well as water management challenges, FPW contamination of aquatic and soil systems, and induced seismicity are all impacts of the HF water cycle in China, the U.S., and Canada. In light of experience gained in North America, standardized practices for analyzing and reporting FPW chemistry and microbiology in China are needed to inform its efficient and safe treatment, discharge and reuse, and identification of potential contaminants. Additionally, conducting ecotoxicological studies is an essential next step to fully reveal the impacts of accidental FPW releases into aquatic and soil ecosystems in China. From a policy perspective, the development of China's unconventional resources lags behind North America's in terms of overall regulation, especially with regard to water withdrawal, FPW management, and routine monitoring. Our study suggests that common environmental risks exist within the world's two largest HF regions, and practices used in North America may help prevent or mitigate adverse effects in China.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cheng Zhong
- Department of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
- School of Environment, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
| | - Ashkan Zolfaghari
- Department of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
| | - Deyi Hou
- School of Environment, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
| | - Greg G Goss
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
| | - Brian D Lanoil
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
| | - Joel Gehman
- Department of Strategy, Entrepreneurship and Management, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
| | - Daniel C W Tsang
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hung Hom, Kowloon, Hong Kong, China
| | - Yuhe He
- School of Energy and Environment and State Key Laboratory of Marine Pollution, City University of Hong Kong, Kowloon Tong, Kowloon, Hong Kong, China
| | - Daniel S Alessi
- Department of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
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Lindsey BD, Belitz K, Cravotta CA, Toccalino PL, Dubrovsky NM. Lithium in groundwater used for drinking-water supply in the United States. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2021; 767:144691. [PMID: 33454610 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.144691] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2020] [Revised: 12/15/2020] [Accepted: 12/20/2020] [Indexed: 05/12/2023]
Abstract
Lithium concentrations in untreated groundwater from 1464 public-supply wells and 1676 domestic-supply wells distributed across 33 principal aquifers in the United States were evaluated for spatial variations and possible explanatory factors. Concentrations nationwide ranged from <1 to 396 μg/L (median of 8.1) for public supply wells and <1 to 1700 μg/L (median of 6 μg/L) for domestic supply wells. For context, lithium concentrations were compared to a Health Based Screening Level (HBSL, 10 μg/L) and a drinking-water only threshold (60 μg/L). These thresholds were exceeded in 45% and 9% of samples from public-supply wells and in 37% and 6% from domestic-supply wells, respectively. However, exceedances and median concentrations ranged broadly across geographic regions and principal aquifers. Concentrations were highest in arid regions and older groundwater, particularly in unconsolidated clastic aquifers and sandstones, and lowest in carbonate-rock aquifers, consistent with differences in lithium abundance among major lithologies and rock weathering extent. The median concentration for public-supply wells in the unconsolidated clastic High Plains aquifer (central United States) was 24.6 μg/L; 24% of the wells exceeded the drinking-water only threshold and 86% exceeded the HBSL. Other unconsolidated clastic aquifers in the arid West had exceedance rates comparable to the High Plains aquifer, whereas no public supply wells in the Biscayne aquifer (southern Florida) exceeded either threshold, and the highest concentration in that aquifer was 2.6 μg/L. Multiple lines of evidence indicate natural sources for the lithium concentrations; however, anthropogenic sources may be important in the future because of the rapid increase of lithium battery use and subsequent disposal. Geochemical models demonstrate that extensive evaporation, mineral dissolution, cation exchange, and mixing with geothermal waters or brines may account for the observed lithium and associated constituent concentrations, with the latter two processes as major contributing factors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bruce D Lindsey
- U.S. Geological Survey, 215 Limekiln Road, New Cumberland, PA 17070, United States.
| | - Kenneth Belitz
- U.S. Geological Survey, 10 Bearfoot Road, Northboro, MA 01532, United States.
| | - Charles A Cravotta
- U.S. Geological Survey, 215 Limekiln Road, New Cumberland, PA 17070, United States.
| | | | - Neil M Dubrovsky
- Emeritus, U.S. Geological Survey, 6000 J Street, Placer Hall, Sacramento, CA 95819, United States.
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29
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Aghababaei M, Luek JL, Ziemkiewicz PF, Mouser PJ. Toxicity of hydraulic fracturing wastewater from black shale natural-gas wells influenced by well maturity and chemical additives. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE. PROCESSES & IMPACTS 2021; 23:621-632. [PMID: 33908986 DOI: 10.1039/d1em00023c] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Hydraulic fracturing of deep shale formations generates large volumes of wastewater that must be managed through treatment, reuse, or disposal. Produced wastewater liberates formation-derived radionuclides and contains previously uncharacterized organohalides thought to be generated within the shale well, both posing unknown toxicity to human and ecological health. Here, we assess the toxicity of 42 input media and produced fluid samples collected from four wells in the Utica formation and Marcellus Shale using two distinct endpoint screening assays. Broad spectrum acute toxicity was assessed using a bioluminescence inhibition assay employing the halotolerant bacterium Aliivibrio fischeri, while predictive mammalian cytotoxicity was evaluated using a N-acetylcysteine (NAC) thiol reactivity assay. The acute toxicity and thiol reactivity of early-stage flowback was higher than later produced fluids, with levels diminishing through time as the natural gas wells matured. Acute toxicity of early stage flowback and drilling muds were on par with the positive control, 3,5-dichlorophenol (6.8 mg L-1). Differences in both acute toxicity and thiol reactivity between paired natural gas well samples were associated with specific chemical additives. Samples from wells containing a larger diversity and concentration of organic additives resulted in higher acute toxicity, while samples from a well applying a higher composition of ammonium persulfate, a strong oxidizer, showed greater thiol reactivity, predictive of higher mammalian toxicity. Both acute toxicity and thiol reactivity are consistently detected in produced waters, in some cases present up to nine months after hydraulic fracturing. These results support that specific chemical additives, the reactions generated by the additives, or the constituents liberated from the formation by the additives contribute to the toxicity of hydraulic fracturing produced waters and reinforces the need for careful consideration of early produced fluid management.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mina Aghababaei
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of New Hampshire, USA.
| | - Jenna L Luek
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of New Hampshire, USA.
| | - Paul F Ziemkiewicz
- West Virginia Water Research Institute, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV 26506, USA
| | - Paula J Mouser
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of New Hampshire, USA.
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30
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Blewett TA, Boyd A, Folkerts EJ, Snihur KN, Alessi DS, Goss G. Effect of temperature on phenanthrene accumulation from hydraulic fracturing flowback and produced water in rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss). ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2021; 272:116411. [PMID: 33486299 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2020.116411] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/11/2020] [Revised: 12/21/2020] [Accepted: 12/28/2020] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Hydraulic fracturing has become widely used in recent years to access vast global unconventional sources of oil and gas. This process involves the injection of proprietary mixtures of water and chemicals to fracture shale formations and extract the hydrocarbons trapped within. These injection fluids, along with minerals, hydrocarbons, and saline waters present within the formations being drilled into, return to the surface as flowback and produced water (FPW). FPW is a highly complex mixture, containing metals, salts and clay, as well as many organic chemicals, including polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons such as phenanthrene. The present study sought to determine the effects of temperature on the accumulation of phenanthrene in rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss). This model organism resides in rivers overlapping the Montney and Duvernay formations, both highly developed formations for hydraulic fracturing. Rainbow trout acclimated to temperatures of 4, 13 and 17 °C were exposed to either 5% or 20% FPW, as well as saline mixtures representing the exact ionic content of FPW to determine the accumulation of radiolabelled 14C phenanthrene within the gill, gut, liver and gallbladder. FPW exposure reduced the overall accumulation of phenanthrene in a manner most often similar to high salinity exposure, indicating that the high ionic strength of FPW is the primary factor affecting accumulation. Accumulation was different at the temperature extremes (4 and 17 °C), although no consistent relationship was observed between temperature and accumulation across the observed tissues. These results indicate that several physiological responses occur as a result of FPW exposure and water temperature change which dictate phenanthrene uptake, particularly in the gills. Temperature (and seasonality) alone cannot be used to model the potential accumulation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons after FPW spills.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tamzin A Blewett
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.
| | - Aaron Boyd
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
| | - Erik J Folkerts
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
| | - Katherine N Snihur
- Department of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
| | - Daniel S Alessi
- Department of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
| | - Greg Goss
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada; NRC-University of Alberta Nanotechnology Initiative, Nanotechnology Research Centre, Edmonton, Canada
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31
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Cozzarelli IM, Kent DB, Briggs M, Engle MA, Benthem A, Skalak KJ, Mumford AC, Jaeschke J, Farag A, Lane JW, Akob DM. Geochemical and geophysical indicators of oil and gas wastewater can trace potential exposure pathways following releases to surface waters. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2021; 755:142909. [PMID: 33131866 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.142909] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2020] [Revised: 09/29/2020] [Accepted: 10/03/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Releases of oil and gas (OG) wastewaters can have complex effects on stream-water quality and downstream organisms, due to sediment-water interactions and groundwater/surface water exchange. Previously, elevated concentrations of sodium (Na), chloride (Cl), barium (Ba), strontium (Sr), and lithium (Li), and trace hydrocarbons were determined to be key markers of OG wastewater releases when combined with Sr and radium (Ra) isotopic compositions. Here, we assessed the persistence of an OG wastewater spill in a creek in North Dakota using a combination of geochemical measurements and modeling, hydrologic analysis, and geophysical investigations. OG wastewater comprised 0.1 to 0.3% of the stream-water compositions at downstream sites in February and June 2015 but could not be quantified in 2016 and 2017. However, OG-wastewater markers persisted in sediments and pore water for 2.5 years after the spill and up to 7.2-km downstream from the spill site. Concentrations of OG wastewater constituents were highly variable depending on the hydrologic conditions. Electromagnetic measurements indicated substantially higher electrical conductivity under the bank adjacent to a seep 7.2 km downstream from the spill site. Geomorphic investigations revealed mobilization of sediment is an important contaminant transport process. Labile Ba, Ra, Sr, and ammonium (NH4) concentrations extracted from sediments indicated sediments are a long-term reservoir of these constituents, both in the creek and on the floodplain. Using the drivers of ecological effects identified at this intensively studied site we identified 41 watersheds across the North Dakota landscape that may be subject to similar episodic inputs from OG wastewater spills. Effects of contaminants released to the environment during OG waste management activities remain poorly understood; however, analyses of Ra and Sr isotopic compositions, as well as trace inorganic and organic compound concentrations at these sites in pore-water provide insights into potentials for animal and human exposures well outside source-remediation zones.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Douglas B Kent
- U.S. Geological Survey, 345 Middlefield Road, Menlo Park, CA 94025, USA
| | - Martin Briggs
- U.S. Geological Survey, 11 Sherman Place, Unit 5015, Storrs Mansfield, CT 06269, USA
| | - Mark A Engle
- Dept. of Geological Sciences, The University of Texas at El Paso, 500 West University Avenue, El Paso, TX 79968, USA
| | - Adam Benthem
- U.S. Geological Survey, New England Water Science Center, 331 Commerce Way, Suite 2, Pembroke, NH 03275, USA
| | | | - Adam C Mumford
- U.S. Geological Survey, 12201 Sunrise Valley Dr., Reston, VA 20192, USA
| | - Jeanne Jaeschke
- U.S. Geological Survey, 12201 Sunrise Valley Dr., Reston, VA 20192, USA
| | - Aïda Farag
- U.S. Geological Survey, Columbia Environmental Research Center, Jackson Field Research Station, 1475 Fish Hatchery Rd, Jackson, WY 83001 USA
| | - John W Lane
- U.S. Geological Survey, 11 Sherman Place, Unit 5015, Storrs Mansfield, CT 06269, USA
| | - Denise M Akob
- U.S. Geological Survey, 12201 Sunrise Valley Dr., Reston, VA 20192, USA
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32
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Folkerts EJ, Goss GG, Blewett TA. Investigating the Potential Toxicity of Hydraulic Fracturing Flowback and Produced Water Spills to Aquatic Animals in Freshwater Environments: A North American Perspective. REVIEWS OF ENVIRONMENTAL CONTAMINATION AND TOXICOLOGY 2021; 254:1-56. [PMID: 32318824 DOI: 10.1007/398_2020_43] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/14/2023]
Abstract
Unconventional methods of oil and natural gas extraction have been a growing part of North America's energy sector for the past 20-30 years. Technologies such as horizontal hydraulic fracturing have facilitated the exploitation of geologic reserves that were previously resistant to standard drilling approaches. However, the environmental risks associated with hydraulic fracturing are relatively understudied. One such hazard is the wastewater by-product of hydraulic fracturing processes: flowback and produced water (FPW). During FPW production, transport, and storage, there are many potential pathways for environmental exposure. In the current review, toxicological hazards associated with FPW surface water contamination events and potential effects on freshwater biota are assessed. This review contains an extensive survey of chemicals commonly associated with FPW samples from shale formations across North America and median 50% lethal concentration values (LC50) of corresponding chemicals for many freshwater organisms. We identify the characteristics of FPW which may have the greatest potential to be drivers of toxicity to freshwater organisms. Notably, components associated with salinity, the organic fraction, and metal species are reviewed. Additionally, we examine the current state of FPW production in North America and identify the most significant obstacles impeding proper risk assessment development when environmental contamination events of this wastewater occur. Findings within this study will serve to catalyze further work on areas currently lacking in FPW research, including expanded whole effluent testing, repeated and chronic FPW exposure studies, and toxicity identification evaluations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Erik J Folkerts
- University of Alberta, Department of Biological Sciences, Edmonton, AB, Canada.
| | - Greg G Goss
- University of Alberta, Department of Biological Sciences, Edmonton, AB, Canada
| | - Tamzin A Blewett
- University of Alberta, Department of Biological Sciences, Edmonton, AB, Canada
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Wang YK, Kong FX, Yang DM, Liu Q, Lin XF, Chen JF, Zhang Y. The synergistic effect of electrocoagulation coupled with E-peroxone process for shale gas fracturing flowback water treatment. CHEMOSPHERE 2021; 262:127968. [PMID: 33182104 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2020.127968] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/05/2020] [Revised: 08/05/2020] [Accepted: 08/06/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Electrocoagulation (EC) coupled with E-peroxone process (ECP) was a promising and cost-effective integrated technology for shale gas fracturing flowback water (SGFFW) treatment. In this study, the ECP process was comprehensively compared with two sequential processes (EC followed by E-peroxone (EC-E-peroxone) and E-peroxone followed by EC (E-peroxone-EC)) to elucidate the synergistic effect of this coupled process. In EC-E-peroxone process, COD decreased by 89.2%, while COD decreased by 82.5% for 180 min in E-peroxone-EC process. However, COD removal efficiency was 82.4% in ECP for only 90 min. Average current efficiency of the ECP process was 29.9%, which was twice than that of the sequential processes. The enhancement factor was calculated to be 1.63, demonstrating the substantial significant synergistic effects for ECP. Only low MW components could be observed for the EC-E-peroxone (average MW = 533 Da with PD ≈ 1) and ECP process (MW = 538 Da with PD ≈ 1). These results suggested that EC-E-peroxone and ECP process had much stronger oxidation ability, demonstrating the enhancement of OH production induced by the Al-based coagulants might be responsible for the significant enhancement of COD removal. These results indicated there could be a synergistic effect between EC and ozone in addition to EC and E-peroxone reactions. Compared to the two sequential processes, ECP was a high efficiency and space-saving electrochemical system with simultaneous coagulation and enhanced OH generation by the products of anode and the cathode.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu-Kun Wang
- Key Laboratory of Shale Gas Exploration, Ministry of Natural Resources, Chongqing Institute of Geology and Mineral Resources, 401120, China; State Key Laboratory of Heavy Oil Processing, Beijing Key Laboratory of Oil & Gas Pollution Control, China University of Petroleum, Beijing, 102249, China
| | - Fan-Xin Kong
- State Key Laboratory of Heavy Oil Processing, Beijing Key Laboratory of Oil & Gas Pollution Control, China University of Petroleum, Beijing, 102249, China.
| | - De-Min Yang
- Key Laboratory of Shale Gas Exploration, Ministry of Natural Resources, Chongqing Institute of Geology and Mineral Resources, 401120, China; National and Local Joint Engineering Research Center of Shale Gas Exploration and Development, Chongqing Institute of Geology and Mineral Resources, Chongqing, 400042, China
| | - Qian Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Heavy Oil Processing, Beijing Key Laboratory of Oil & Gas Pollution Control, China University of Petroleum, Beijing, 102249, China
| | - Xiao-Feng Lin
- State Key Laboratory of Heavy Oil Processing, Beijing Key Laboratory of Oil & Gas Pollution Control, China University of Petroleum, Beijing, 102249, China
| | - Jin-Fu Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Heavy Oil Processing, Beijing Key Laboratory of Oil & Gas Pollution Control, China University of Petroleum, Beijing, 102249, China
| | - Yi Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Shale Gas Exploration, Ministry of Natural Resources, Chongqing Institute of Geology and Mineral Resources, 401120, China
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Kassotis CD, Harkness JS, Vo PH, Vu DC, Hoffman K, Cinnamon KM, Cornelius-Green JN, Vengosh A, Lin CH, Tillitt DE, Kruse RL, McElroy JA, Nagel SC. Endocrine disrupting activities and geochemistry of water resources associated with unconventional oil and gas activity. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2020; 748:142236. [PMID: 33039138 PMCID: PMC7772064 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.142236] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2020] [Revised: 09/01/2020] [Accepted: 09/03/2020] [Indexed: 05/12/2023]
Abstract
The rise of hydraulic fracturing and unconventional oil and gas (UOG) exploration in the United States has increased public concerns for water contamination induced from hydraulic fracturing fluids and associated wastewater spills. Herein, we collected surface and groundwater samples across Garfield County, Colorado, a drilling-dense region, and measured endocrine bioactivities, geochemical tracers of UOG wastewater, UOG-related organic contaminants in surface water, and evaluated UOG drilling production (weighted well scores, nearby well count, reported spills) surrounding sites. Elevated antagonist activities for the estrogen, androgen, progesterone, and glucocorticoid receptors were detected in surface water and associated with nearby shale gas well counts and density. The elevated endocrine activities were observed in surface water associated with medium and high UOG production (weighted UOG well score-based groups). These bioactivities were generally not associated with reported spills nearby, and often did not exhibit geochemical profiles associated with UOG wastewater from this region. Our results suggest the potential for releases of low-saline hydraulic fracturing fluids or chemicals used in other aspects of UOG production, similar to the chemistry of the local water, and dissimilar from defined spills of post-injection wastewater. Notably, water collected from certain medium and high UOG production sites exhibited bioactivities well above the levels known to impact the health of aquatic organisms, suggesting that further research to assess potential endocrine activities of UOG operations is warranted.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Jennifer S Harkness
- U.S. Geological Survey, California Water Science Center, 6000 J Street, Placer Hall, Sacramento, CA 95819, USA
| | - Phuc H Vo
- Center for Agroforestry, School of Natural Resources, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211, USA
| | - Danh C Vu
- Center for Agroforestry, School of Natural Resources, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211, USA; Faculty of Technology, Van Lang University, Ho Chi Minh City, Viet Nam
| | - Kate Hoffman
- Nicholas School of the Environment, Duke University, Durham, NC 27708, USA
| | - Katelyn M Cinnamon
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Women's Health, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211, USA
| | - Jennifer N Cornelius-Green
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Women's Health, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211, USA
| | - Avner Vengosh
- Nicholas School of the Environment, Duke University, Durham, NC 27708, USA
| | - Chung-Ho Lin
- Center for Agroforestry, School of Natural Resources, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211, USA
| | - Donald E Tillitt
- U.S. Geological Survey, Columbia Environmental Research Center, 4200 New Haven Road, Columbia, MO 65201, USA
| | - Robin L Kruse
- Department of Family and Community Medicine, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211, USA
| | - Jane A McElroy
- Department of Family and Community Medicine, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211, USA
| | - Susan C Nagel
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Women's Health, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211, USA.
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Tornabene BJ, Breuner CW, Hossack BR. Relative Toxicity and Sublethal Effects of NaCl and Energy-Related Saline Wastewaters on Prairie Amphibians. AQUATIC TOXICOLOGY (AMSTERDAM, NETHERLANDS) 2020; 228:105626. [PMID: 32992088 DOI: 10.1016/j.aquatox.2020.105626] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/23/2020] [Revised: 08/25/2020] [Accepted: 08/29/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Increasing salinity in freshwater environments is a growing problem due both to the negative influences of salts on ecosystems and their accumulation and persistence in environments. Two major sources of increased salinity from sodium chloride salts (NaCl) are saline wastewaters co-produced during energy production (herein, wastewaters) and road salts. Effects of road salts have received more attention, but legacy contamination from wastewaters is widespread in some regions and spills still occur. Amphibians are sensitive to contaminants, including NaCl, because of their porous skin and osmoregulatory adaptations to freshwater. However, similarities and differences between effects of wastewaters and road salts have not been investigated. Therefore, we investigated the relative influence of wastewaters and NaCl at equivalent concentrations of chloride on three larval amphibian species that occur in areas with increased salinity. We determined acute toxicity and growth effects on Boreal Chorus Frogs (Pseudacris maculata), Northern Leopard Frogs (Rana pipiens), and Barred Tiger Salamanders (Ambystoma mavortium). We posited that wastewaters would have additive effects on amphibians compared to NaCl because wastewaters often have additional toxic heavy metals and other contaminants. For NaCl, toxicity was higher for frogs than the salamander. Toxicity of wastewaters was also similar between chorus and leopard frogs. Only chorus frog survival was lower when exposed to wastewater compared to NaCl. Mass and length of leopard and chorus frog larvae decreased with increasing salinity after only 96 hours of exposure but did not for tiger salamanders. Size of leopard frogs was lower when exposed to NaCl compared to wastewater. However, growth effects were similar between wastewater and NaCl for chorus frogs. Taken together, our results suggest that previous studies on effects of road salt could inform future studies and management of wastewater-contaminated ecosystems, and vice versa. Nevertheless, effects of road salts and wastewaters may be context-, species-, and trait-specific and require further investigations. The negative influence of salts on imperiled amphibians underscores the need to restore landscapes with increased salinity and reduce future salinization of freshwater ecosystems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brian J Tornabene
- Wildlife Biology Program, W.A. Franke College of Forestry & Conservation, University of Montana, 32 Campus Drive, Missoula, MT, 59812, United States.
| | - Creagh W Breuner
- Wildlife Biology Program, W.A. Franke College of Forestry & Conservation, University of Montana, 32 Campus Drive, Missoula, MT, 59812, United States
| | - Blake R Hossack
- Wildlife Biology Program, W.A. Franke College of Forestry & Conservation, University of Montana, 32 Campus Drive, Missoula, MT, 59812, United States; U.S. Geological Survey, Northern Rocky Mountain Science Center, Missoula, MT, 59812, United States
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36
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Piotrowski PK, Tasker TL, Geeza TJ, McDevitt B, Gillikin DP, Warner NR, Dorman FL. Forensic tracers of exposure to produced water in freshwater mussels: a preliminary assessment of Ba, Sr, and cyclic hydrocarbons. Sci Rep 2020; 10:15416. [PMID: 32963276 PMCID: PMC7508860 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-72014-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/24/2020] [Accepted: 08/18/2020] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Hydraulic fracturing is often criticized due in part to the potential degradation of ground and surface water quality by high-salinity produced water generated during well stimulation and production. This preliminary study evaluated the response of the freshwater mussel, Elliptio complanata, after exposure to produced water. A limited number of adult mussels were grown over an 8-week period in tanks dosed with produced water collected from a hydraulically fractured well. The fatty tissue and carbonate shells were assessed for accumulation of both inorganic and organic pollutants. Ba, Sr, and cyclic hydrocarbons indicated the potential to accumulate in the soft tissue of freshwater mussels following exposure to diluted oil and gas produced water. Exposed mussels showed accumulation of Ba in the soft tissue several hundred times above background water concentrations and increased concentrations of Sr. Cyclic hydrocarbons were detected in dosed mussels and principle component analysis of gas chromatograph time-of-flight mass spectrometer results could be a novel tool to help identify areas where aquatic organisms are impacted by oil and gas produced water, but larger studies with greater replication are necessary to confirm these results.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paulina K Piotrowski
- Department of Chemistry, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, USA
| | - Travis L Tasker
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, The Pennsylvania State University, 212 Sackett Building, University Park, PA, 16802, USA.,Environmental Engineering, Saint Francis University, Loretto, PA, USA
| | - Thomas J Geeza
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, The Pennsylvania State University, 212 Sackett Building, University Park, PA, 16802, USA.,EES-14, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, NM, 87544, USA
| | - Bonnie McDevitt
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, The Pennsylvania State University, 212 Sackett Building, University Park, PA, 16802, USA
| | - David P Gillikin
- Department of Geology, Union College, 807 Union St, Schenectady, NY, 12308, USA
| | - Nathaniel R Warner
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, The Pennsylvania State University, 212 Sackett Building, University Park, PA, 16802, USA.
| | - Frank L Dorman
- Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology and Molecular Biology, The Pennsylvania State University, 107 Althouse Lab, University Park, PA, 16802, USA.
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Acharya SM, Chakraborty R, Tringe SG. Emerging Trends in Biological Treatment of Wastewater From Unconventional Oil and Gas Extraction. Front Microbiol 2020; 11:569019. [PMID: 33013800 PMCID: PMC7509137 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2020.569019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/02/2020] [Accepted: 08/19/2020] [Indexed: 01/16/2023] Open
Abstract
Unconventional oil and gas exploration generates an enormous quantity of wastewater, commonly referred to as flowback and produced water (FPW). Limited freshwater resources and stringent disposal regulations have provided impetus for FPW reuse. Organic and inorganic compounds released from the shale/brine formation, microbial activity, and residual chemicals added during hydraulic fracturing bestow a unique as well as temporally varying chemical composition to this wastewater. Studies indicate that many of the compounds found in FPW are amenable to biological degradation, indicating biological treatment may be a viable option for FPW processing and reuse. This review discusses commonly characterized contaminants and current knowledge on their biodegradability, including the enzymes and organisms involved. Further, a perspective on recent novel hybrid biological treatments and application of knowledge gained from omics studies in improving these treatments is explored.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shwetha M Acharya
- U.S. Department of Energy Joint Genome Institute, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA, United States
| | - Romy Chakraborty
- Department of Ecology, Earth and Environmental Sciences Area, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA, United States
- Environmental Genomics and Systems Biology, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA, United States
| | - Susannah G Tringe
- U.S. Department of Energy Joint Genome Institute, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA, United States
- Environmental Genomics and Systems Biology, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA, United States
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Ajemigbitse MA, Cannon FS, Warner NR. A rapid method to determine 226Ra concentrations in Marcellus Shale produced waters using liquid scintillation counting. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RADIOACTIVITY 2020; 220-221:106300. [PMID: 32560888 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvrad.2020.106300] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2020] [Revised: 05/05/2020] [Accepted: 05/05/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Concentrations of naturally occurring radioactive material (NORM) in Marcellus Shale produced water presents a challenge for effective management and treatment, because of the vast fluid volumes generated. With an increased emphasis on beneficial reuse and resource recovery from the produced waters, a rapid, yet reliable, method for quantifying radium in these produced waters is needed. The high total dissolved solids (TDS) concentration introduces difficulties when measuring 226Ra by recommended EPA methods that were specifically developed several decades ago for drinking water. While other techniques for measuring radium in these high-TDS fluids have since been developed, these newer techniques often require extensive and complicated pre-concentration steps; and they thus require extensive analytical chemistry skills, utilize hazardous chemicals like hydrofluoric acid, demand long holding times or measurement times, and require high sample volumes. We present a rapid method for 226Ra measurements in high-TDS produced waters by liquid scintillation counting, which has been corroborated herein by concurrent gamma spectrometry analyses. Samples were prepared for analysis by evaporating the fluid and re-suspending the evaporate with acidified distilled deionized water prior to liquid scintillation counting for 1 h. This protocol yielded radium recoveries ≥93%. Per this protocol, the alpha and beta spectra of 226Ra and its daughters were computationally separated by alpha-beta discrimination and spectrum deconvolution. The minimum detectable activities of 226Ra was 0.33 Bq/L (9.0 pCi/L) when the counting time was 60 min and the sample volume was 4 mL. Nine produced waters of varying TDS and radium concentrations from the Marcellus Shale Formation were analyzed by this method and compared with gamma spectroscopy; and these yielded comparable results with an R2 of 0.92. The reduced sample preparation steps, low cost, and rapid analysis position this as a well-suited protocol for field-appraisal and screening, when compared to comprehensive radiochemical analysis. We offer that for a given produced water region, routine and local liquid scintillation analyses can be compared and calibrated with infrequent gamma spec analyses, so as to yield a near-real time protocol for monitoring 226Ra levels during hydrofracturing operations. We present this as a pragmatic and efficient protocol for monitoring 226Ra when produced water samples host low levels of 228Ra-since the progeny of 228Ra can significantly confound the LSC analyses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Moses A Ajemigbitse
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Pennsylvania State University, 212 Sackett Building, University Park, PA, 16802, United States.
| | - Fred S Cannon
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Pennsylvania State University, 212 Sackett Building, University Park, PA, 16802, United States; Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, 225 Sackett Building, Pennsylvania, 16802, United States.
| | - Nathaniel R Warner
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Pennsylvania State University, 212 Sackett Building, University Park, PA, 16802, United States; Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, 231E Sackett Building, Pennsylvania, 16802, United States.
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Mol MF, Li M, Gernand JM. Particulate matter emissions associated with marcellus shale drilling waste disposal and transport. JOURNAL OF THE AIR & WASTE MANAGEMENT ASSOCIATION (1995) 2020; 70:795-809. [PMID: 32516062 DOI: 10.1080/10962247.2020.1772901] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/04/2019] [Revised: 01/23/2020] [Accepted: 04/13/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
This study models emissions quantities and neighboring exposure concentrations of six airborne pollutants, including PM10, PM2.5, crystalline silica, arsenic, uranium, and barium, which resulted from the disposal of Marcellus shale drill cuttings waste during the 2011-2017 period. Using these predicted exposures, this study evaluates current setback distances required in Pennsylvania from waste facilities. For potential residents living at the perimeter of the current setback distance, 274 m (900 ft), a waste disposal rate of 612.4 metric tons per day at landfills (the 99th percentile in record) does not result in exceedances of the exposure limits for any of the six investigated pollutants. However, the current setback distance can result in exceedance with respect to the 24-hr daily concentration standards for PM10 and PM2.5 established in the National Air Ambient Quality Standards (NAAQS), if daily waste disposal rate surpasses 900 metric tons per day. Dry depositions of barium-containing and uranium-containing particulate matter should not be a danger to public health based on these results. To investigate the air quality impacts of waste transportation and the potential for reductions, this article describes an optimization of landfill locations in Pennsylvania indicating the potential benefits in reduced environmental health hazard level possible by decreasing the distance traveled by waste disposal trucks. This strategy could reduce annual emissions of PM10 and PM2.5 by a mean of 64% and reduce the expected number of annual fatal accidents by nearly half, and should be considered a potential risk management goal in the long run. Therefore, policy to limit or encourage reduction of distances traveled by waste removal trucks and manage setback distances as a function of delivered waste quantities is merited. Implications This study shows the necessity of reviewing current setback distance required in Pennsylvania, which might not ensure 24-hr mean PM10 and PM2.5 levels below the values stated in National Ambient Air Quality Standards for the residents living at the perimeter. Furthermore, this study also reveals potential tremendous benefits from optimizing location of landfills accepting drill cuttings within Pennsylvania, with PM10 and PM2.5 emission, total distance traveled shrinking, and number of fatal accidents shrinking by nearly half.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mevlut Furkan Mol
- John and Willie Leone Family Department of Energy and Mineral Engineering, The Pennsylvania State University , University Park, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Mengfan Li
- John and Willie Leone Family Department of Energy and Mineral Engineering, The Pennsylvania State University , University Park, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Jeremy M Gernand
- John and Willie Leone Family Department of Energy and Mineral Engineering, The Pennsylvania State University , University Park, Pennsylvania, USA
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Nascimben Santos E, Ágoston Á, Kertész S, Hodúr C, László Z, Pap Z, Kása Z, Alapi T, Krishnan SG, Arthanareeswaran G, Hernadi K, Veréb G. Investigation of the applicability of TiO
2
, BiVO
4
, and WO
3
nanomaterials for advanced photocatalytic membranes used for oil‐in‐water emulsion separation. ASIA-PAC J CHEM ENG 2020. [DOI: 10.1002/apj.2549] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Erika Nascimben Santos
- Institute of Process Engineering, Faculty of Engineering University of Szeged Szeged Hungary
| | - Áron Ágoston
- Institute of Process Engineering, Faculty of Engineering University of Szeged Szeged Hungary
| | - Szabolcs Kertész
- Institute of Process Engineering, Faculty of Engineering University of Szeged Szeged Hungary
| | - Cecilia Hodúr
- Institute of Process Engineering, Faculty of Engineering University of Szeged Szeged Hungary
- Institute of Environmental Science and Technology University of Szeged Szeged Hungary
| | - Zsuzsanna László
- Institute of Process Engineering, Faculty of Engineering University of Szeged Szeged Hungary
| | - Zsolt Pap
- Institute of Environmental Science and Technology University of Szeged Szeged Hungary
| | - Zsolt Kása
- Institute of Environmental Science and Technology University of Szeged Szeged Hungary
| | - Tünde Alapi
- Department of Inorganic and Analytical Chemistry, Institute of Chemistry University of Szeged Szeged Hungary
| | - S.A. Gokula Krishnan
- Department of Chemical Engineering, National Institute of Technology Membrane Research Laboratory Tiruchirappalli India
| | - Gangasalam Arthanareeswaran
- Department of Chemical Engineering, National Institute of Technology Membrane Research Laboratory Tiruchirappalli India
| | - Klara Hernadi
- Department of Applied and Environmental Chemistry, Institute of Chemistry University of Szeged Szeged Hungary
| | - Gábor Veréb
- Institute of Process Engineering, Faculty of Engineering University of Szeged Szeged Hungary
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41
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Nascimbén Santos É, László Z, Hodúr C, Arthanareeswaran G, Veréb G. Photocatalytic membrane filtration and its advantages over conventional approaches in the treatment of oily wastewater: A review. ASIA-PAC J CHEM ENG 2020. [DOI: 10.1002/apj.2533] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Érika Nascimbén Santos
- Department of Process Engineering, Faculty of Engineering University of Szeged Szeged Hungary
- Doctoral School of Environmental Sciences University of Szeged Szeged Hungary
| | - Zsuzsanna László
- Department of Process Engineering, Faculty of Engineering University of Szeged Szeged Hungary
| | - Cecilia Hodúr
- Department of Process Engineering, Faculty of Engineering University of Szeged Szeged Hungary
- Institute of Environmental and Technological Sciences University of Szeged Szeged Hungary
| | - Gangasalam Arthanareeswaran
- Membrane Research Laboratory, Department of Chemical Engineering National Institute of Technology Tiruchirappalli India
| | - Gábor Veréb
- Department of Process Engineering, Faculty of Engineering University of Szeged Szeged Hungary
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McDevitt B, McLaughlin MC, Vinson DS, Geeza TJ, Blotevogel J, Borch T, Warner NR. Isotopic and element ratios fingerprint salinization impact from beneficial use of oil and gas produced water in the Western U.S. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2020; 716:137006. [PMID: 32069772 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.137006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2019] [Revised: 01/16/2020] [Accepted: 01/28/2020] [Indexed: 05/13/2023]
Abstract
Salinization of global freshwater resources is a concerning health and economic issue of the 21st century and requires serious management and study to understand how, and by what mechanism, Total Dissolved Solids (TDS) is changing in major watersheds. Oil and gas (O&G) produced water is a complex and saline (10-300 g/L TDS) wastewater often disposed to surface waters post-treatment. However, in western U.S. states, beneficial use of minimally treated O&G produced water discharged to ephemeral streams is permitted through the USEPA National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) for agriculture and wildlife propagation. In a remote Wyoming study region, beneficial use of O&G NPDES effluents annually contributes 13 billion L of water to surface water resources. The primary O&G TDS constituents are sulfate and sodium followed by chloride and calcium. Significant TDS increases from 2013 to 2016 in a large perennial river (River C) impacted by O&G effluent disposal, slight TDS increases in a perennial river (River B) and chronically elevated TDS (upwards of 2500 mg/L) in a smaller tributary (Tributary A) comprised mainly of O&G effluents led to an investigation of O&G impacts to surface waters in the region. Chloride-normalized metal ratios such as Br/Cl and δ2H and δ18O distinguished evaporation as the mechanism for increasing TDS derived from O&G on Tributary A, which is causing O&G effluents that meet NPDES regulations to not only exceed outfall regulations downstream where it is beneficially used for irrigation and drinking water but also exceed aquatic life and livestock recommended limits. 87Sr/86Sr and δ34SSO4 suggested minor impacts from O&G TDS loading on River C but also support an additional salinity source, such as streambed geological controls, the cause of significantly increasing TDS. While lithium isotopes provided insight into the O&G effluent origin (δ7Li ranged 9-10‰) and water-sediment interactions along O&G effluent streams, they did not function as distinct salinity tracers in the larger downstream rivers. This study suggests a multi-isotope (87Sr/86Sr and δ34SSO4) approach is often necessary for fingerprinting salinization sources and determining best management practices because multiple salinity sources and environmental mechanisms may need to be identified to protect water quality.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bonnie McDevitt
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, The Pennsylvania State University, United States of America
| | - Molly C McLaughlin
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Colorado State University, United States of America
| | - David S Vinson
- Department of Geography and Earth Sciences, University of North Carolina at Charlotte, United States of America
| | - Thomas J Geeza
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, The Pennsylvania State University, United States of America; EES-14, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, NM 87544, United States of America
| | - Jens Blotevogel
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Colorado State University, United States of America
| | - Thomas Borch
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Colorado State University, United States of America; Department of Chemistry, Colorado State University, United States of America; Department of Soil and Crop Sciences, Colorado State University, United States of America
| | - Nathaniel R Warner
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, The Pennsylvania State University, United States of America.
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McLaughlin MC, Blotevogel J, Watson RA, Schell B, Blewett TA, Folkerts EJ, Goss GG, Truong L, Tanguay RL, Argueso JL, Borch T. Mutagenicity assessment downstream of oil and gas produced water discharges intended for agricultural beneficial reuse. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2020; 715:136944. [PMID: 32014773 PMCID: PMC7243347 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.136944] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/26/2019] [Revised: 01/22/2020] [Accepted: 01/24/2020] [Indexed: 05/08/2023]
Abstract
Produced water is the largest waste stream associated with oil and gas operations. This complex fluid contains petroleum hydrocarbons, heavy metals, salts, naturally occurring radioactive materials and any remaining chemical additives. In the United States, west of the 98th meridian, the federal National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) exemption allows release of produced water for agricultural beneficial reuse. The goal of this study was to quantify mutagenicity of a produced water NPDES release and discharge stream. We used four mutation assays in budding yeast cells that provide rate estimates for copy number variation (CNV) duplications and deletions, as well as forward and reversion point mutations. Higher mutation rates were observed at the discharge and decreased with distance downstream, which correlated with the concentrations of known carcinogens detected in the stream (e.g., benzene, radium), described in a companion study. Mutation rate increases were most prominent for CNV duplications and were higher than mutations observed in mixtures of known toxic compounds. Additionally, the samples were evaluated for acute toxicity in Daphnia magna and developmental toxicity in zebrafish. Acute toxicity was minimal, and no developmental toxicity was observed. This study illustrates that chemical analysis alone (McLaughlin et al., 2020) is insufficient for characterizing the risk of produced water NPDES releases and that a thorough evaluation of chronic toxicity is necessary to fully assess produced water for beneficial reuse.
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Affiliation(s)
- Molly C McLaughlin
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Colorado State University, 1320 Campus Delivery, Fort Collins, CO 80523, USA
| | - Jens Blotevogel
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Colorado State University, 1320 Campus Delivery, Fort Collins, CO 80523, USA.
| | - Ruth A Watson
- Department of Environmental and Radiological Health Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO 80523, United States
| | - Baylee Schell
- Department of Environmental and Radiological Health Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO 80523, United States; Department of Chemistry, Colorado State University, 1872 Campus Delivery, Fort Collins, CO 80523, USA
| | - Tamzin A Blewett
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Alberta, Alberta T6G 2R3, Canada
| | - Erik J Folkerts
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Alberta, Alberta T6G 2R3, Canada
| | - Greg G Goss
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Alberta, Alberta T6G 2R3, Canada; National Institute for Nanotechnology, Edmonton, Alberta T6G 2M9, Canada
| | - Lisa Truong
- Department of Environmental and Molecular Toxicology, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR 97331, USA
| | - Robyn L Tanguay
- Department of Environmental and Molecular Toxicology, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR 97331, USA
| | - Juan Lucas Argueso
- Department of Environmental and Radiological Health Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO 80523, United States.
| | - Thomas Borch
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Colorado State University, 1320 Campus Delivery, Fort Collins, CO 80523, USA; Department of Chemistry, Colorado State University, 1872 Campus Delivery, Fort Collins, CO 80523, USA; Department of Soil and Crop Sciences, Colorado State University, 1170 Campus Delivery, Fort Collins, CO 80523, USA.
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44
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McDevitt B, Cavazza M, Beam R, Cavazza E, Burgos WD, Li L, Warner NR. Maximum Removal Efficiency of Barium, Strontium, Radium, and Sulfate with Optimum AMD-Marcellus Flowback Mixing Ratios for Beneficial Use in the Northern Appalachian Basin. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2020; 54:4829-4839. [PMID: 32250106 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.9b07072] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/13/2023]
Abstract
Mixing of acid mine drainage (AMD) and hydraulic fracturing flowback fluids (HFFF) could represent an efficient management practice to simultaneously manage two complex energy wastewater streams while reducing freshwater resource consumption. AMD discharges offer generally high sulfate concentrations, especially from the bituminous coal region of Pennsylvania; unconventional Marcellus shale gas wells generally yield HFFF enriched in alkaline earth metals such as Sr and Ba, known to cause scaling issues in oil and gas (O&G) production. Mixing the two waters can precipitate HFFF-Ba and -Sr with AMD-SO4, therefore removing them from solution. Four AMD discharges and HFFF from two unconventional Marcellus shale gas wells were characterized and mixed in batch reactors for 14 days. Ba could be completely removed from solution within 1 day of mixing in the form BaxSr1-xSO4 and no further significant precipitation occurred after 2 days. Total removal efficiencies of Ba + Sr + SO4 and the proportion of Ba and Sr in BaxSr1-xSO4 depended upon the Ba/Sr ratio in the initial HFFF. A geochemical model was calibrated from batch reactor data and used to identify optimum AMD-HFFF mixing ratios that maximize total removal efficiencies (Ba + Sr + SO4) for reuse in O&G development. Increasing Ba/Sr ratios can enhance total removal efficiency but decrease the efficiency of Ra removal. Thus, treatment objectives and intended beneficial reuse need to be identified prior to optimizing the treatment of HFFF with AMD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bonnie McDevitt
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, The Pennsylvania State University, 212 Sackett Building, University Park, Pennsylvania 16802, United States
| | - Michael Cavazza
- Department of Energy and Mineral Engineering, The Pennsylvania State University, 110 Hosler Building, University Park, Pennsylvania 16802, United States
| | - Richard Beam
- Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection, Bureau of Abandoned Mine Reclamation, 286 Industrial Park Rd, Ebensburg, Pennsylvania 15931, United States
| | - Eric Cavazza
- Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection, Bureau of Abandoned Mine Reclamation, Rachel Carson Office Building, P.O. Box 69205, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania 17106, United States
| | - William D Burgos
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, The Pennsylvania State University, 212 Sackett Building, University Park, Pennsylvania 16802, United States
| | - Li Li
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, The Pennsylvania State University, 212 Sackett Building, University Park, Pennsylvania 16802, United States
| | - Nathaniel R Warner
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, The Pennsylvania State University, 212 Sackett Building, University Park, Pennsylvania 16802, United States
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45
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Advanced Bioreactor Treatments of Hydrocarbon-Containing Wastewater. APPLIED SCIENCES-BASEL 2020. [DOI: 10.3390/app10030831] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
This review discusses bioreactor-based methods for industrial hydrocarbon-containing wastewater treatment using different (e.g., stirred-tank, membrane, packed-bed and fluidized-bed) constructions. Aerobic, anaerobic and hybrid bioreactors are becoming increasingly popular in the field of oily wastewater treatment, while high concentrations of petroleum hydrocarbons usually require physico-chemical pre-treatments. Most efficient bioreactor techniques employ immobilized cultures of hydrocarbon-oxidizing microorganisms, either defined consortia or mixed natural populations. Some advantages of fluidized-bed bioreactors over other types of reactors are shown, such as large biofilm–liquid interfacial area, high immobilized biomass concentration and improved mass transfer characteristics. Several limitations, including low nutrient content and the presence of heavy metals or toxicants, as well as fouling and contamination with nuisance microorganisms, can be overcome using effective inocula and advanced bioreactor designs. The examples of laboratory studies and few successful pilot/full-scale applications are given relating to the biotreatment of oilfield wastewater, fuel-contaminated water and refinery effluents.
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Kolb C, Good KD, VanBriesen JM. Modeling Trihalomethane Increases Associated with Source Water Bromide Contributed by Coal-Fired Power Plants in the Monongahela River Basin. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2020; 54:726-734. [PMID: 31846301 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.9b01544] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Increases in source water bromide concentrations are challenging for drinking water utilities since bromide contributes to the formation of disinfection byproducts (DBPs) that have negative human-health effects. The present work evaluates the role of coal-fired power plant wet flue gas desulfurization (FGD)-associated bromide loads on in-stream bromide concentrations in the Monongahela River Basin in the water year (WY) 1998 (during a nationwide study) and over a five-year period from WYs 2013 through 2017. Under mean flow conditions in the lower Monongahela River for the WYs of interest, the median-estimated wet FGD bromide discharges are modeled to represent a significant fraction (27-57%) of observed bromide concentrations with the range representing the change in load conditions across WYs. Seasonal effects are predicted due to changes in the dilution capacity of the river with elevated concentrations under lower flows in the third and fourth quarters (July through December). The effect of these bromide concentration contributions, which range from 6.8 to 23 μg/L under median load estimates and median flow conditions, on trihalomethane (THM) formation and associated risk were assessed. A simple model was applied to demonstrate an analytical approach for evaluating the power plant total THM (TTHM) and risk contributions. Utilizing this model, the power plant TTHM contribution was estimated to range from 7.6 to 27 μg/L with a median risk contribution of 0.0014.
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Veréb G, Gayır VE, Santos EN, Fazekas Á, Kertész S, Hodúr C, László Z. Purification of real car wash wastewater with complex coagulation/flocculation methods using polyaluminum chloride, polyelectrolyte, clay mineral and cationic surfactant. WATER SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY : A JOURNAL OF THE INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION ON WATER POLLUTION RESEARCH 2019; 80:1902-1909. [PMID: 32144222 DOI: 10.2166/wst.2020.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
In the present study, real car wash wastewater was purified by different coagulation/flocculation methods. As coagulant, polyaluminum chloride ('BOPAC'), conventional iron(III) chloride, iron(III) sulfate, and aluminum(III) chloride were used, while as flocculant non-ionic and anionic polyelectrolytes were investigated. The effects of added clay mineral (Na-bentonite) and cationic surfactant (hexadecyltrimethyl ammonium bromide - 'HTABr') were also investigated. The use of BOPAC was significantly more effective than conventional coagulants. Extra addition of clay mineral was also beneficial in relation to both the sediment volume and sedimentation speed, while polyelectrolyte addition enhanced further the sedimentation. Moreover, the simultaneous addition of HTABr significantly enhanced the color removal efficiency due to the successful in-situ generation of organophilic bentonite. In summary, the application of 100 mg L-1 Na-bentonite with 20 mg L-1 Al3+ (from BOPAC) and 0.5 mg L-1 anionic polyelectrolyte resulted in the efficient reduction of the turbidity (4-6 NTU), the COD (158 mg L-1) and the extractable oil content (4 mg L-1) with efficiencies of 98%, 59%, and 85%, respectively. By applying organophilic bentonite in high concentration (500 mg L-1) with identical concentrations of BOPAC and anionic polyelectrolyte, significant color removal (5 times lower absorbance at λ = 400 nm) and 27% lower sediment volume were achieved.
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Affiliation(s)
- G Veréb
- Institute of Process Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, University of Szeged, H-6725, Moszkvai Blvd. 9, Szeged, Hungary E-mail:
| | - V E Gayır
- Institute of Process Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, University of Szeged, H-6725, Moszkvai Blvd. 9, Szeged, Hungary E-mail:
| | - E N Santos
- Institute of Process Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, University of Szeged, H-6725, Moszkvai Blvd. 9, Szeged, Hungary E-mail:
| | - Á Fazekas
- Institute of Process Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, University of Szeged, H-6725, Moszkvai Blvd. 9, Szeged, Hungary E-mail:
| | - Sz Kertész
- Institute of Process Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, University of Szeged, H-6725, Moszkvai Blvd. 9, Szeged, Hungary E-mail:
| | - C Hodúr
- Institute of Process Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, University of Szeged, H-6725, Moszkvai Blvd. 9, Szeged, Hungary E-mail: ; Institute of Environmental Science and Technology, University of Szeged, H-6720, Tisza Lajos Blvd. 103, Szeged, Hungary
| | - Zs László
- Institute of Process Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, University of Szeged, H-6725, Moszkvai Blvd. 9, Szeged, Hungary E-mail:
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48
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Ajemigbitse MA, Tasker TL, Cannon FS, Warner NR. Influence of High Total Dissolved Solids Concentration and Ionic Composition on γ Spectroscopy Radium Measurements of Oil and Gas-Produced Water. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2019; 53:10295-10302. [PMID: 31429285 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.9b03035] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/13/2023]
Abstract
Radium measurements in high total dissolved solids (TDS) fluids from oil and gas extraction can have unfavorable precision and accuracy, in part because these high-level impurities incur attenuation. γ spectroscopy is often recommended for determining radium activities in these fluids, but even this method can produce a range of reported activities for the same sample. To reduce measurement duration and to maintain or improve accuracy, we propose a method to rapidly assess both 226Ra and 228Ra and to account for the self-attenuation of γ rays in high-TDS oil and gas fluids when they are monitored by a well detector. In this work, comparisons between a NaCl-only and a multi-cation-chloride synthetic brine spiked with known amounts of 226Ra and 228Ra indicated that both the TDS concentration and the type of TDS (i.e., Na only vs Na-Mg-Ba-Ca-Sr) influenced self-attenuation in well-detector γ spectroscopy, thus highlighting the need to correct for this TDS-influenced self-attenuation. Radium activities can be underestimated if the correction is not applied. For instance, 226Ra activities could be ∼40% lower in a sample when measured directly at the 186 keV energy level if the attenuation of the high TDS of the fluid is not considered. We also showed that using a NaCl-only brine to match the matrix of high-TDS oil and gas brines is inadequate to produce accurate measurements, rather, the full set of cations should be included.
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Affiliation(s)
- Moses A Ajemigbitse
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering , Pennsylvania State University , 212 Sackett Building , University Park , Pennsylvania 16802 , United States
| | - Travis L Tasker
- Department of Environmental Engineering , Saint Francis University , Science Center , Loretto , Pennsylvania 15940 , United States
| | - Fred S Cannon
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering , Pennsylvania State University , 212 Sackett Building , University Park , Pennsylvania 16802 , United States
| | - Nathaniel R Warner
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering , Pennsylvania State University , 212 Sackett Building , University Park , Pennsylvania 16802 , United States
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49
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Danforth C, McPartland J, Blotevogel J, Coleman N, Devlin D, Olsgard M, Parkerton T, Saunders N. Alternative Management of Oil and Gas Produced Water Requires More Research on Its Hazards and Risks. INTEGRATED ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT AND MANAGEMENT 2019; 15:677-682. [PMID: 30994242 DOI: 10.1002/ieam.4160] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2019] [Revised: 02/22/2019] [Accepted: 04/15/2019] [Indexed: 05/23/2023]
Abstract
Produced water is the largest waste stream associated with oil and gas exploration and production operations. Most produced water generated onshore is managed by permitted injection in deep underground wells, but alternative disposal options including reuse are increasingly being considered. However, insufficient understanding of the composition and toxicity of produced water imposes significant constraints on effective management of potential short-term and long-term risks associated with such alternative uses. As interest builds for management options, such as surface discharge, livestock watering, irrigation, and other industrial uses, research is needed to assess produced-water hazards and exposures to both humans and the environment. This challenge affords an opportunity to capitalize on emerging risk assessment tools. Innovative and comprehensive approaches to filling data gaps and assessing produced water risks will be imperative. A group of experts from industry, academia, and government were assembled to define research needs to support objective decision making on the acceptability, or lack thereof, of produced water disposal alternatives. Presented here are key outcomes from that workshop and recommendations for a research framework to assess toxicity of produced water and associated risks from above ground discharge and reuse options. Integr Environ Assess Manag 2019;15:677-682. © 2019 SETAC.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Jens Blotevogel
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado, USA
| | - Nancy Coleman
- Environmental Consultants, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA
| | | | - Mandy Olsgard
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
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Hill LAL, Czolowski ED, DiGiulio D, Shonkoff SBC. Temporal and spatial trends of conventional and unconventional oil and gas waste management in Pennsylvania, 1991-2017. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2019; 674:623-636. [PMID: 31029931 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2019.03.475] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/05/2019] [Revised: 03/30/2019] [Accepted: 03/30/2019] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
The significant development of oil and gas from the Marcellus Shale and other geological formations in Pennsylvania over the last decade has generated large volumes of liquid and solid waste. In this paper we use data reported to the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (PADEP) to examine temporal and spatial trends in generation and management of liquid and solid waste from both conventional and unconventional oil and gas activities in Pennsylvania between 1991 and 2017. While previous assessments have examined this waste inventory in part, no complete assessment of waste quantity, waste types, waste handling practices, and spatial waste tracking has been undertaken using all currently available years of Pennsylvania oil and gas waste data. In 2017 more than half of oil and gas wastewater by volume was reused at well pads to facilitate more hydrocarbon production while the majority of solid waste by volume was disposed of at in-state landfills. The spatial resolution of wastewater generation and handling from unconventional operations has improved substantially with recent regulations and reporting requirements; however, conventional oil and gas development was not held to more stringent reporting requirements and thus spatially-explicit data on wastewater generation and handling from conventional oil and gas development is still lacking. In addition, a third of the liquid waste across all years in the inventory lack a reported final destination. Spatially explicit cradle-to-grave reporting of waste generation and waste handling from both conventional and unconventional oil and gas development is critical to assess potential environmental and human health hazards and risks associated with oil and gas development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lee Ann L Hill
- PSE Healthy Energy, 1440 Broadway, Suite 205, Oakland, CA 94612, United States of America.
| | - Eliza D Czolowski
- PSE Healthy Energy, 1440 Broadway, Suite 205, Oakland, CA 94612, United States of America
| | - Dominic DiGiulio
- PSE Healthy Energy, 1440 Broadway, Suite 205, Oakland, CA 94612, United States of America; Department of Earth System Science, Stanford University, 473 Via Ortega, Stanford, CA 94305, United States of America
| | - Seth B C Shonkoff
- PSE Healthy Energy, 1440 Broadway, Suite 205, Oakland, CA 94612, United States of America; Department of Environmental Science, Policy and Management, University of California, Berkeley, 130 Mulford Hall, Berkeley, CA 94720-3114, United States of America; Energy Technologies Area, Lawrence Berkeley National Lab, 1 Cyclotron Road, Berkeley, CA 94702, United States of America
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