Article
 

Impact of natural gas extraction on PAH levels in ambient air

Public Deposited

Downloadable Content

Download PDF
https://ir.library.oregonstate.edu/concern/articles/b2774121t

Descriptions

Attribute NameValues
Creator
Abstract
  • After publication the authors discovered a mistake in the air concentration calculations. PAH air concentrations reported in the original article are therefore incorrect. The calculation error resulted from using incorrect units of the ideal gas constant, and improper cell linkages in the spreadsheet used to adjust air concentrations for sampling temperature. Correcting this error changes air concentrations significantly relative to those reported in the published article. This correction also changes some of the conclusions reported in the original article. Due to the impact of this correction on the reported findings, all authors retract the original article. The original article was published on March 26, 2015 and retracted on June 29, 2016.
  • Natural gas extraction, often referred to as “fracking,” has increased rapidly in the U.S. in recent years. To address potential health impacts, passive air samplers were deployed in a rural community heavily affected by the natural gas boom. Samplers were analyzed for 62 polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). Results were grouped based on distance from each sampler to the nearest active well. PAH levels were highest when samplers were closest to active wells. Additionally, PAH levels closest to natural gas activity were an order of magnitude higher than levels previously reported in rural areas. Sourcing ratios indicate that PAHs were predominantly petrogenic, suggesting that elevated PAH levels were influenced by direct releases from the earth. Quantitative human health risk assessment estimated the excess lifetime cancer risks associated with exposure to the measured PAHs. Closest to active wells, the risk estimated for maximum residential exposure was 2.9 in 10,000, which is above the U.S. EPA’s acceptable risk level. Overall, risk estimates decreased 30% when comparing results from samplers closest to active wells to those farthest. This work suggests that natural gas extraction may be contributing significantly to PAHs in air, at levels that are relevant to human health.
Resource Type
DOI
Date Available
Date Issued
Citation
  • Paulik, L. B., Donald, C. E., Smith, B. W., Tidwell, L. G., Hobbie, K. A., Kincl, L., ... & Anderson, K. A. (2015). Impact of natural gas extraction on PAH levels in ambient air. Environmental Science & Technology, 49(8), 5203-5210. doi:10.1021/es506095e
Journal Title
Journal Volume
  • 49
Journal Issue/Number
  • 8
Rights Statement
Funding Statement (additional comments about funding)
  • This work was funded by the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences grants to Oregon State University: P30-ES000210 and to the University of Cincinnati: P30-ES06096.
Publisher
Peer Reviewed
Language
Replaces

Relationships

Parents:

This work has no parents.

Items