1. Hydraulic Fracturing: The Neurological Effects Shannon Oleynik ‘16 ES366 The Environment and Human Health, Environmental Studies Program, Colby College Figure 1. Natural Gas Production by Source, 1990- 2040 (trillion cubic feet) Source: EIA.gov The process of fracking exposes humans to a huge number of chemicals, from the volatile chemicals in the air to the water soluble chemicals that pollute groundwater, known to disrupt systems in the body. In the study “Natural Gas Operations from a Public Health Perspective,” Coburn et al. examine the known chemicals involved in fracking and the impacts of these chemicals on human health (4). The group compiled a list of the chemicals that companies disclosed, and matched these chemicals with listings in the Chemical Abstract Service, to determine the effects. The adverse neurological impacts of exposure to the identifiable chemicals, both water soluble and volatile in the air, is highlighted in the graph below (4). Drilling Stage: Use: During the initial stage of fracking site preparation, companies add chemicals designed to increase the density of fluids, reduce friction, and shorten drilling time to “muds” in order to drill the bore hole (4). Exposure: Volatile chemicals are released into the air, and the soluble chemicals used to drill the bore holes pollute the groundwater. Fracking Stage: Use: During the operational stage, approximately “a million or more gallons of fluid containing toxic chemicals are injected underground,” Colburn et al. estimates. These wells can be fracked up to ten times and each pad may have 30 wells (4). Estimations of the percentage of toxic fracking fluid that returns to the surface are as high as 90% (4). Exposure: These chemicals can enter the environment through three pathways:  Direct: Chemicals can enter the air and water through improper well construction and over- aggressive fracking (5).  Indirect: Companies send the flowback fluid, which is the water that returns to the surface containing high levels of salt, drilling chemicals, heavy metals, and naturally occurring radiation, to a water treatment plant and discharge the fluid back into ground and surface water, still containing many of the fracking chemicals (5).  Possible: There is a potential for spills, leaking of chemical waste into the groundwater, and the connection of the oil and gas reserves and the groundwater aquifers (5). The risks associated with the numerous chemicals used in the hydraulic fracturing process pose a threat to human health, specifically to the neurological system. As the natural gas industry grows, and hydraulic fracturing becomes a prominent part of the nation’s natural gas resources, more stringent policies must be enacted, and the process must be scientifically analyzed for human health effects. Future policies should include:  Mandatory disclosure of all chemicals in fracking fluids  Stricter Regulation under the SWDA, RCRA, EPCRA, NEPA, and CAA  The consideration of fracking fluid as a hazardous waste, subject to regulation under CERCLA The Committee on Energy and Commerce in the House reported that, “between 2005 and 2009, the 14 oil and gas service companies used more than 2,500 hydraulic fracturing products containing 750 chemicals and other components, “including some extremely toxic chemicals, including benzene and lead” (3). 29 of these chemicals, used in more than 650 chemicals, are either known human carcinogens, listed as toxic under the Safe Water Drinking Act, or listed as hazardous air pollutants under the Clean Air Act (3). In addition to disclosed chemicals, oil and gas companies are unable to provide a complete list of chemicals used because of the fracking fluid manufacturer’s claims that the chemical makeup of their product is a trade secret. Between 2005 and 2009, 279 fracking products contained at least one undisclosed chemical (3). Researchers at the University of Colorado conducted a study to determine the occurrence of health risks related to the use of specific chemicals found in the environment surrounding hydrofracked gas wells. Using the town of Battlement Mesa, CO as a case study, the group conducted a Health Impact Assessment of the 200 proposed gas wells in the town. The researchers found that there was an increased Health Impact for residents within ½ mile of the wells, and that “most of the chronic non-cancer hazard is attributed to neurological effects.” Researches found similar results for sub-chronic health impacts, attributing the greatest impact to neurological effects (8). Most of the health effects are primarily caused by high exposure to trimethylbenzenes, aliphatic hydrocarbons, and xylenes, all of which have “neurological and/or respiratory effects.” The levels of chemicals observed at these rural sites were higher than at urban sites, indicating a strong relationship between the presence of the shale gas wells and the incidence of these types of chemicals. As a formal recognition of this risk, the Garfield Country inventory attributed the high emissions of these chemicals primarily to natural gas development (8). Figure 2. Percent of composition disclosed for 944 fracking products Source: Colburn et. al Less than 1% Greater than 95% 51%- 95% 1%-50% Figure 3. Profile of Possible Health Effects soluble and volatile chemicals with CAS profiles used in natural gas operations Source: Colburn et al. Because of limitations including limited chemical reporting and lack of transparency by companies, the group concluded that these health effects are likely underestimates of the true impacts. Although Congress has the power to regulate hydraulic fracturing under the Commerce Clause, most regulation is left to the states (5). The 2005 Energy Policy Act exempts oil and natural gas operations from many federal regulations pertaining to the environment and human health including the following: Safe Water Drinking Act: Fracking fluids may be injected into the groundwater as long as they do not contain diesel fuels. Resource Conservation and Recovery Act: Fluids and wastes from oil and natural gas productions are not classified under Subtitle C- hazardous to humans and the environment- and are instead regulated less stringently than other hazardous wastes. Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act: The EPA does not list the natural gas industry on the list of industries required to report toxic chemical information, which would include fugitive on-site air releases, water releases, on and off-site land releases, underground injection, transfers to waste management facilities, and on-site waste treatment and management procedures National Environmental Policy Act: Oil and gas industries are excluded from NEPA because the EPA presumed them to have no significant environmental impact. The burden is on the public to prove harm to human health. Clean Air Act: Oil and gas wells are not considered major sources of air pollutants and are not required to obtain a Title 5 permit. Finally, under Occupational Safety and Health Administration regulations, manufacturers may withhold the identity of chemical components that constitute “trade secrets” (3). 1. United States. Energy Information Administration. Natural Gas. EIA. 31 March 2014. Web. 22 April 2014. 2. Hays, Jake, and Adam Law. “Public Health Concerns of Shale Gas Development.” Physicians for Social Responsibility. Physicians for Social Responsibility, 18 June 2012. Web. 14 April 2014. 3. United States. House of Representatives. Committee on Energy and Commerce Minority Staff. “Chemicals Used In Hydraulic Fracturing.” U.S. House of Representatives. Committee on Energy and Commerce Minority Staff, April 2011. Web. 14 April 2014. 4. Colburn, Theo et al. “Natural Gas Operations from a Public Health Perspective.” Human and Ecological Risk Assessment: An International Journal. 17. 5 (2011). 1039- 1056. Web. 14 April 2014. 5. Brady, William J. “Hydraulic Fracturing Regulation in the United States: The Laissez-Faire Approach of the Federal Government and Varying State Regulations.” University of Denver Sturm College of Law. Web 14 April 2014. 6. “A Human Rights Assessment of Hydraulic Fracturing for Natural Gas.” Environment and Human Rights Advisory. (2011). Web 28 April 2014. 7. Basu, Niladri. “Neurotoxicity.” The Encyclopedia of the Earth. (2011). Web 28 April 2014. 8.. McKenzie, Lisa M. et al. “Human health risk assessment of air emissions from development of unconventional natural gas resources.” Science of the Total Environment (2012): n. pag. Web. 14 April 2014. Soluble: 60% Volatile: 80% At risk populations include: children, infants, the elderly, cancer survivors, those with compromised immune systems, and the socially and economically disadvantaged (6). The neurological system is made up of a network of signals that regulate motor skills and sensory organs controlled by the brain, spinal cord and surrounding nerve endings. Any damage or barrier to this regulatory system can cause changes to sensory input such as hearing and sight, can cause behavioral or psychological issues, and can affect the brain’s ability to store and process information. Chemicals can adversely affect the neurological system by: damaging or killing neurons, interfering with electrical transmission, or interfering with chemical transmission The chemical makeup of a neurotoxin:  Fat soluble or has a certain ionic structure that gives it the ability to cross the barrier to the brain [e xamples: hydrogen cyanide and hydrogen sulfide]  Inhibits a cell’s ability to utilize oxygen causing anoxia [examples: fluoroacetate, glutamate, mercury, methanol]  Can interfere with the signal between nerve endings by impeding the electrical transmission [examples: DDT and triethyltin] or chemical transmission [examples: organophosphates and carbamate pesticides] of the message to the brain or spinal cord (7).