J Environ Sci Health A Tox Hazard Subst Environ Eng. 2015;50(5):447-59. doi: 10.1080/10934529.2015.992655.
Long-term impacts of unconventional drilling operations on human and animal health.
Abstract
Public
health concerns related to the expansion of unconventional oil and gas
drilling have sparked intense debate. In 2012, we published case reports
of animals and humans affected by nearby drilling operations. Because
of the potential for long-term effects of even low doses of
environmental toxicants and the cumulative impact of exposures of
multiple chemicals by multiple routes of exposure, a longitudinal study
of these cases is necessary. Twenty-one cases from five states were
followed longitudinally; the follow-up period averaged 25 months. In
addition to humans, cases involved food animals, companion animals and
wildlife. More than half of all exposures were related to drilling and
hydraulic fracturing operations; these decreased slightly over time.
More than a third of all exposures were associated with wastewater,
processing and production operations; these exposures increased slightly
over time. Health impacts decreased for families and animals moving
from intensively drilled areas or remaining in areas where drilling
activity decreased. In cases of families remaining in the same area and
for which drilling activity either remained the same or increased, no
change in health impacts was observed. Over the course of the study, the
distribution of symptoms was unchanged for humans and companion
animals, but in food animals, reproductive problems decreased and both
respiratory and growth problems increased. This longitudinal case study
illustrates the importance of obtaining detailed epidemiological data on
the long-term health effects of multiple chemical exposures and
multiple routes of exposure that are characteristic of the environmental
impacts of unconventional drilling operations.
