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Aker AM, Friesen M, Ronald LA, Doyle-Waters MM, Takaro TJ, Thickson W, Levin K, Meyer U, Caron-Beaudoin E, McGregor MJ. The human health effects of unconventional oil and gas development (UOGD): A scoping review of epidemiologic studies. Can J Public Health 2024:10.17269/s41997-024-00860-2. [PMID: 38457120 DOI: 10.17269/s41997-024-00860-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/21/2023] [Accepted: 01/23/2024] [Indexed: 03/09/2024]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Unconventional oil and gas development (UOGD, sometimes termed "fracking" or "hydraulic fracturing") is an industrial process to extract methane gas and/or oil deposits. Many chemicals used in UOGD have known adverse human health effects. Canada is a major producer of UOGD-derived gas with wells frequently located in and around rural and Indigenous communities. Our objective was to conduct a scoping review to identify the extent of research evidence assessing UOGD exposure-related health impacts, with an additional focus on Canadian studies. METHODS We included English- or French-language peer-reviewed epidemiologic studies (January 2000-December 2022) which measured exposure to UOGD chemicals directly or by proxy, and where health outcomes were plausibly caused by UOGD-related chemical exposure. Results synthesis was descriptive with results ordered by outcome and hierarchy of methodological approach. SYNTHESIS We identified 52 studies from nine jurisdictions. Only two were set in Canada. A majority (n = 27) used retrospective cohort and case-control designs. Almost half (n = 24) focused on birth outcomes, with a majority (n = 22) reporting one or more significant adverse associations of UOGD exposure with: low birthweight; small for gestational age; preterm birth; and one or more birth defects. Other studies identified adverse impacts including asthma (n = 7), respiratory (n = 13), cardiovascular (n = 6), childhood acute lymphocytic leukemia (n = 2), and all-cause mortality (n = 4). CONCLUSION There is a growing body of research, across different jurisdictions, reporting associations of UOGD with adverse health outcomes. Despite the rapid growth of UOGD, which is often located in remote, rural, and Indigenous communities, Canadian research on its effects on human health is remarkably sparse. There is a pressing need for additional evidence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amira M Aker
- Université Laval, CHU de Quebec - Université Laval, Québec, QC, Canada
| | - Michael Friesen
- Faculty of Health Sciences, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, BC, Canada
| | - Lisa A Ronald
- Faculty of Health Sciences, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, BC, Canada
- Centre for Clinical Epidemiology and Evaluation, Vancouver Coastal Health Research Institute, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Mary M Doyle-Waters
- Centre for Clinical Epidemiology and Evaluation, Vancouver Coastal Health Research Institute, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Tim J Takaro
- Faculty of Health Sciences, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, BC, Canada
| | - Willow Thickson
- Department of Family Practice, Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada
| | - Karen Levin
- Emerald Environmental Consulting, Kent, OH, USA
| | - Ulrike Meyer
- Department of Family Practice, Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada
| | - Elyse Caron-Beaudoin
- Department of Health and Society and Department of Physical and Environmental Sciences, University of Toronto Scarborough, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Margaret J McGregor
- Centre for Clinical Epidemiology and Evaluation, Vancouver Coastal Health Research Institute, Vancouver, BC, Canada.
- Department of Family Practice, Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada.
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2
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Epuna F, Shaheen SW, Wen T. Road salting and natural brine migration revealed as major sources of groundwater contamination across regions of northern Appalachia with and without unconventional oil and gas development. Water Res 2022; 225:119128. [PMID: 36162296 DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2022.119128] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/03/2022] [Revised: 09/03/2022] [Accepted: 09/15/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
High methane and salt levels in groundwater have been the most widely cited unconventional oil and gas development (UOGD) related water impairments. The attribution of these contaminants to UOGD is usually complex, especially in regions with mixed land uses. Here, we compiled a large hydrogeochemistry dataset containing 13 geochemical analytes for 17,794 groundwater samples from rural northern Appalachia, i.e., 19 counties located on the boundary between Pennsylvania (PA; UOGD is permitted) and New York (NY; UOGD is banned). With this dataset, we explored if statistical and geospatial tools can help shed light on the sources of inorganic solutes and methane in groundwater in regions with mixed land uses. The traditional Principal Component Analysis (PCA) indicates salts in NY and PA groundwater are mainly from the Appalachian Basin Brine (ABB). In contrast, the machine learning tool - Non-negative Matrix Factorization (NMF) highlights that road salts (in addition to ABB) account for 36%-48% of total chloride in NY and PA groundwaters. The PCA fails to identify road salts as one water/salt source, likely due to its geochemical similarity with ABB. Neither PCA nor NMF detects a regional impact of UOGD on groundwater quality. Our geospatial analyses further corroborate (1) road salting is the major salt source in groundwater, and its impact is enhanced in proximity to highways; (2) UOGD-related groundwater quality deterioration is only limited to a few localities in PA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Favour Epuna
- Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Syracuse University, Syracuse, NY 13244, United States
| | - Samuel W Shaheen
- Department of Geosciences, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania 16802, United States
| | - Tao Wen
- Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Syracuse University, Syracuse, NY 13244, United States.
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3
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Deziel NC, Brokovich E, Grotto I, Clark CJ, Barnett-Itzhaki Z, Broday D, Agay-Shay K. Unconventional oil and gas development and health outcomes: A scoping review of the epidemiological research. Environ Res 2020; 182:109124. [PMID: 32069745 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2020.109124] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/24/2018] [Revised: 12/06/2019] [Accepted: 01/06/2020] [Indexed: 05/17/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Hydraulic fracturing together with directional and horizontal well drilling (unconventional oil and gas (UOG) development) has increased substantially over the last decade. UOG development is a complex process presenting many potential environmental health hazards, raising serious public concern. AIM To conduct a scoping review to assess what is known about the human health outcomes associated with exposure to UOG development. METHODS We performed a literature search in MEDLINE and SCOPUS for epidemiological studies of exposure to UOG development and verified human health outcomes published through August 15, 2019. For each eligible study we extracted data on the study design, study population, health outcomes, exposure assessment approach, statistical methodology, and potential confounders. We reviewed the articles based on categories of health outcomes. RESULTS We identified 806 published articles, most of which were published during the last three years. After screening, 40 peer-reviewed articles were selected for full text evaluation and of these, 29 articles met our inclusion criteria. Studies evaluated pregnancy outcomes, cancer incidence, hospitalizations, asthma exacerbations, sexually transmitted diseases, and injuries or mortality from traffic accidents. Our review found that 25 of the 29 studies reported at least one statistically significant association between the UOG exposure metric and an adverse health outcome. The most commonly studied endpoint was adverse birth outcomes, particularly preterm deliveries and low birth weight. Few studies evaluated the mediating pathways that may underpin these associations, highlighting a clear need for research on the potential exposure pathways and mechanisms underlying observed relationships. CONCLUSIONS This review highlights the heterogeneity among studies with respect to study design, outcome of interest, and exposure assessment methodology. Though replication in other populations is important, current research points to a growing body of evidence of health problems in communities living near UOG sites.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicole C Deziel
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, CT, United States.
| | - Eran Brokovich
- Natural Resources Administration, Ministry of Energy, Jerusalem, Israel.
| | - Itamar Grotto
- Ministry of Health, Jerusalem, Israel; School of Public Health, Faculty of Health Science, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer, Sheva, Israel.
| | - Cassandra J Clark
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, CT, United States
| | - Zohar Barnett-Itzhaki
- Public Health Services, Ministry of Health, Jerusalem, Israel; Research Center for Health Informatics, School of Engineering, Ruppin Academic Center, Israel.
| | - David Broday
- Department of Environmental, Water, and Agricultural Engineering, Faculty of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Technion-Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa, Israel.
| | - Keren Agay-Shay
- Department of Population Health, Azrieli Faculty of Medicine, Bar Ilan University, Safed, Israel.
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4
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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. Integr Environ Assess Manag 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] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [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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5
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Piotrowski PK, Tasker TL, Burgos WD, Dorman FL. Applications of thermal desorption coupled to comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography/time-of-flight mass spectrometry for hydrocarbon fingerprinting of hydraulically fractured shale rocks. J Chromatogr A 2018; 1579:99-105. [PMID: 30342786 DOI: 10.1016/j.chroma.2018.10.021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/24/2018] [Revised: 10/09/2018] [Accepted: 10/14/2018] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Development of shale gas resources through the use of hydraulic fracturing has raised a multitude of environmental concerns and motivated research towards the understanding of shale gas systems. Previous research has demonstrated the potential of utilizing hydrocarbon distributions towards the fingerprinting of a potential environmental contamination event arising from shale gas operations. However, to apply hydrocarbon distributions from shale gas wells towards point-source identification and apportionment, a better understanding of hydrocarbon origins must be achieved. Here we present an efficient and repeatable thermal desorption method, as a sample introduction methodology for GC × GC analysis of shale rock samples that results in comparable chromatograms to those produced by solvent extraction. This novel and robust characterization technique of shale cores from Marcellus and Utica formations by thermal desorption followed by GC × GC enables the understanding of hydrocarbon speciation within the native rock with minimal sample preparation time and solvent use. The detailed shale chemistry gives insight into utilizing hydrocarbon differences towards point-source identification methodologies of environmental contamination events associated with unconventional gas development. Additionally, this analytical technique may provide a more detailed analysis of hydrocarbons than what is currently implemented in the industry to pinpoint the most advantageous areas to exploit by hydraulic fracturing, yet avoiding undesirable areas such as those with a high abundance of sulfur containing compounds.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paulina K Piotrowski
- Department of Chemistry, The Pennsylvania State University, 104 Chemistry Building, University Park, PA 16802, United States
| | - Travis L Tasker
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, The Pennsylvania State University, 212 Sackett Building, University Park, PA 16802, United States
| | - William D Burgos
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, The Pennsylvania State University, 212 Sackett Building, University Park, PA 16802, United States
| | - Frank L Dorman
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, The Pennsylvania State University, 107 Althouse Lab, University Park, PA 16802, United States.
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6
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Liden T, Santos IC, Hildenbrand ZL, Schug KA. Treatment modalities for the reuse of produced waste from oil and gas development. Sci Total Environ 2018; 643:107-118. [PMID: 29936154 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2018.05.386] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/04/2018] [Revised: 05/30/2018] [Accepted: 05/31/2018] [Indexed: 05/27/2023]
Abstract
Unconventional oil and gas development is achieved through a series of sub-processes, which utilize large amounts of water, proppant, and chemical additives to retrieve sequestered hydrocarbons from low permeability petroliferous strata. As a result, a large amount of wastewater is produced, which is traditionally disposed of via subsurface injection into non-productive stratum throughout the country. However, this method of waste management has been linked to the induction of seismic events in a number of regions across North America, calling into question the environmental stewardship and sustainability of subsurface waste disposal. Advancements in water treatment technologies have improved the efficacy and financial viability of produced water recycling for beneficial reuse in the oil and gas sector. This review will cover the various treatment options that are currently being utilized in shale energy basins to remove organic, inorganic, and biological constituents, as well as some emerging technologies that are designed to remove pertinent contaminants that would otherwise preclude the reuse of produced water for production well stimulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tiffany Liden
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, The University of Texas at Arlington, 700 Planetarium Place, Arlington, TX 76019, USA
| | - Inês C Santos
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, The University of Texas at Arlington, 700 Planetarium Place, Arlington, TX 76019, USA; Affiliate of Collaborative Laboratories for Environmental Analysis and Remediation, The University of Texas at Arlington, Arlington, TX 76019, USA
| | - Zacariah L Hildenbrand
- Affiliate of Collaborative Laboratories for Environmental Analysis and Remediation, The University of Texas at Arlington, Arlington, TX 76019, USA; Inform Environmental, LLC, 6060 N. Central Expressway, Suite 500, Dallas, TX 75206, USA.
| | - Kevin A Schug
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, The University of Texas at Arlington, 700 Planetarium Place, Arlington, TX 76019, USA; Affiliate of Collaborative Laboratories for Environmental Analysis and Remediation, The University of Texas at Arlington, Arlington, TX 76019, USA.
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7
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Hildenbrand ZL, Santos IC, Liden T, Carlton DD, Varona-Torres E, Martin MS, Reyes ML, Mulla SR, Schug KA. Characterizing variable biogeochemical changes during the treatment of produced oilfield waste. Sci Total Environ 2018; 634:1519-1529. [PMID: 29710650 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2018.03.388] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2018] [Revised: 03/30/2018] [Accepted: 03/31/2018] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
At the forefront of the discussions about climate change and energy independence has been the process of hydraulic fracturing, which utilizes large amounts of water, proppants, and chemical additives to stimulate sequestered hydrocarbons from impermeable subsurface strata. This process also produces large amounts of heterogeneous flowback and formation waters, the subsurface disposal of which has most recently been linked to the induction of anthropogenic earthquakes. As such, the management of these waste streams has provided a newfound impetus to explore recycling alternatives to reduce the reliance on subsurface disposal and fresh water resources. However, the biogeochemical characteristics of produced oilfield waste render its recycling and reutilization for production well stimulation a substantial challenge. Here we present a comprehensive analysis of produced waste from the Eagle Ford shale region before, during, and after treatment through adjustable separation, flocculation, and disinfection technologies. The collection of bulk measurements revealed significant reductions in suspended and dissolved constituents that could otherwise preclude untreated produced water from being utilized for production well stimulation. Additionally, a significant step-wise reduction in pertinent scaling and well-fouling elements was observed, in conjunction with notable fluctuations in the microbiomes of highly variable produced waters. Collectively, these data provide insight into the efficacies of available water treatment modalities within the shale energy sector, which is currently challenged with improving the environmental stewardship of produced water management.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zacariah L Hildenbrand
- Affiliate of the Collaborative Laboratories for Environmental Analysis and Remediation, The University of Texas at Arlington, Arlington, TX 76019, United States; Inform Environmental, LLC, Dallas, TX 75206, United States.
| | - Inês C Santos
- Affiliate of the Collaborative Laboratories for Environmental Analysis and Remediation, The University of Texas at Arlington, Arlington, TX 76019, United States; Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, The University of Texas at Arlington, Arlington, TX 76019, United States
| | - Tiffany Liden
- Affiliate of the Collaborative Laboratories for Environmental Analysis and Remediation, The University of Texas at Arlington, Arlington, TX 76019, United States; Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, The University of Texas at Arlington, Arlington, TX 76019, United States
| | - Doug D Carlton
- Affiliate of the Collaborative Laboratories for Environmental Analysis and Remediation, The University of Texas at Arlington, Arlington, TX 76019, United States; Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, The University of Texas at Arlington, Arlington, TX 76019, United States
| | - Emmanuel Varona-Torres
- Affiliate of the Collaborative Laboratories for Environmental Analysis and Remediation, The University of Texas at Arlington, Arlington, TX 76019, United States; Inform Environmental, LLC, Dallas, TX 75206, United States
| | - Misty S Martin
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, The University of Texas at Arlington, Arlington, TX 76019, United States
| | - Michelle L Reyes
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, The University of Texas at Arlington, Arlington, TX 76019, United States
| | - Safwan R Mulla
- Affiliate of the Collaborative Laboratories for Environmental Analysis and Remediation, The University of Texas at Arlington, Arlington, TX 76019, United States
| | - Kevin A Schug
- Affiliate of the Collaborative Laboratories for Environmental Analysis and Remediation, The University of Texas at Arlington, Arlington, TX 76019, United States; Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, The University of Texas at Arlington, Arlington, TX 76019, United States.
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8
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Oikonomou PD, Kallenberger JA, Waskom RM, Boone KK, Plombon EN, Ryan JN. Water acquisition and use during unconventional oil and gas development and the existing data challenges: Weld and Garfield counties, CO. J Environ Manage 2016; 181:36-47. [PMID: 27300291 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2016.06.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/23/2016] [Revised: 06/03/2016] [Accepted: 06/05/2016] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
Colorado has recently experienced a significant increase in unconventional oil and gas development, with the greatest concentration of activity occurring in Weld and Garfield counties. Water for oil and gas development has received much attention mainly because water resources are limited in these regions and development is taking place closer to populated areas than it did in the past. Publicly available datasets for the period 2011-2014 were used to identify water acquisition strategies and sources of water used for oil and gas. In addition, the annual average water used in these two counties was quantified and compared to their total water withdrawals. The analysis also quantified the water needed for different well types, along with the flowback water that is retrieved. Weld and Garfield counties are dissimilar in respect to development practices for water acquisition, preferred well type and the fate of flowback water. But at the same time, this difference displays how geological characteristics, water availability, and administration localities are the key elements along with economics in the decision making process within the oil and gas sector. This effort also revealed data challenges regarding accessibility and reliability of reported information, and the need for additional data. Improving the understanding of the unconventional oil and gas sector's water use will help identify possible effects and tradeoffs on the local/regional level, which could diminish the conflicting perspectives that shape the water-energy discussions. This would complement the ability to make informed water resources planning and management decisions that are environmentally and socially acceptable.
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Affiliation(s)
- Panagiotis D Oikonomou
- Colorado Water Institute, Colorado State University, Campus Delivery 1033, Fort Collins, CO 80523-1033, USA; Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Colorado State University, Campus Delivery 1372, Fort Collins, CO 80523-1372, USA.
| | - Julie A Kallenberger
- Colorado Water Institute, Colorado State University, Campus Delivery 1033, Fort Collins, CO 80523-1033, USA.
| | - Reagan M Waskom
- Colorado Water Institute, Colorado State University, Campus Delivery 1033, Fort Collins, CO 80523-1033, USA.
| | - Karie K Boone
- Colorado Water Institute, Colorado State University, Campus Delivery 1033, Fort Collins, CO 80523-1033, USA.
| | - Elizabeth N Plombon
- Colorado Water Institute, Colorado State University, Campus Delivery 1033, Fort Collins, CO 80523-1033, USA.
| | - Joseph N Ryan
- Department of Civil, Environmental, and Architectural Engineering, University of Colorado, Campus Box 428, Boulder, CO 80309-0428, USA.
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9
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Hildenbrand ZL, Carlton DD, Fontenot BE, Meik JM, Walton JL, Thacker JB, Korlie S, Shelor CP, Kadjo AF, Clark A, Usenko S, Hamilton JS, Mach PM, Verbeck GF, Hudak P, Schug KA. Temporal variation in groundwater quality in the Permian Basin of Texas, a region of increasing unconventional oil and gas development. Sci Total Environ 2016; 562:906-913. [PMID: 27125684 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2016.04.144] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2016] [Revised: 04/20/2016] [Accepted: 04/20/2016] [Indexed: 06/05/2023]
Abstract
The recent expansion of natural gas and oil extraction using unconventional oil and gas development (UD) practices such as horizontal drilling and hydraulic fracturing has raised questions about the potential for environmental impacts. Prior research has focused on evaluations of air and water quality in particular regions without explicitly considering temporal variation; thus, little is known about the potential effects of UD activity on the environment over longer periods of time. Here, we present an assessment of private well water quality in an area of increasing UD activity over a period of 13months. We analyzed samples from 42 private water wells located in three contiguous counties on the Eastern Shelf of the Permian Basin in Texas. This area has experienced a rise in UD activity in the last few years, and we analyzed samples in four separate time points to assess variation in groundwater quality over time as UD activities increased. We monitored general water quality parameters as well as several compounds used in UD activities. We found that some constituents remained stable over time, but others experienced significant variation over the period of study. Notable findings include significant changes in total organic carbon and pH along with ephemeral detections of ethanol, bromide, and dichloromethane after the initial sampling phase. These data provide insight into the potentially transient nature of compounds associated with groundwater contamination in areas experiencing UD activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zacariah L Hildenbrand
- Collaborative Laboratories for Environmental Analysis and Remediation, University of Texas at Arlington, Arlington, TX 76019, United States; Inform Environmental, LLC, Dallas, TX 75206, United States.
| | - Doug D Carlton
- Collaborative Laboratories for Environmental Analysis and Remediation, University of Texas at Arlington, Arlington, TX 76019, United States; Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Texas at Arlington, Arlington, TX 76019, United States
| | - Brian E Fontenot
- Collaborative Laboratories for Environmental Analysis and Remediation, University of Texas at Arlington, Arlington, TX 76019, United States
| | - Jesse M Meik
- Collaborative Laboratories for Environmental Analysis and Remediation, University of Texas at Arlington, Arlington, TX 76019, United States; Department of Biological Sciences, Tarleton State University, Stephenville, TX 76401, United States
| | - Jayme L Walton
- Collaborative Laboratories for Environmental Analysis and Remediation, University of Texas at Arlington, Arlington, TX 76019, United States
| | - Jonathan B Thacker
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Texas at Arlington, Arlington, TX 76019, United States
| | - Stephanie Korlie
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Texas at Arlington, Arlington, TX 76019, United States
| | - C Phillip Shelor
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Texas at Arlington, Arlington, TX 76019, United States
| | - Akinde F Kadjo
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Texas at Arlington, Arlington, TX 76019, United States
| | - Adelaide Clark
- Department of Environmental Science, Baylor University, Waco, TX 76706, United States
| | - Sascha Usenko
- Department of Environmental Science, Baylor University, Waco, TX 76706, United States
| | - Jason S Hamilton
- Department of Chemistry, University of North Texas, Denton, TX 76203, United States
| | - Phillip M Mach
- Department of Chemistry, University of North Texas, Denton, TX 76203, United States
| | - Guido F Verbeck
- Department of Chemistry, University of North Texas, Denton, TX 76203, United States
| | - Paul Hudak
- Department of Geography, University of North Texas, Denton, TX 76203, United States
| | - Kevin A Schug
- Collaborative Laboratories for Environmental Analysis and Remediation, University of Texas at Arlington, Arlington, TX 76019, United States; Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Texas at Arlington, Arlington, TX 76019, United States.
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