1. Shale Gas Development : Understanding Health Risks and Impacts
Toxics Action Center:
Local Environmental Action 2017
Boston, MA• March 5, 2017
Beth Weinberger, MPH, PhD

2. Public health impacts of shale gas development
Health consequences of shale development
The special case of children
Permit applications and health impact assessments

3. Category
Researcher
Behavioral/mood/stress
Ferrar et al. (2013)
Perry (2013)
Resick (2013)
Birth Outcomes
Hill (2012)
McKenzie (2014)
Casey (2016)
Stacy (2015)
Cancer risk
Jemielita (2015)
Yao (2015)
McKenzie (2012)
Dermal
Steinzor (2013)
Rabinowitz (2014)
Ear, nose, mouth, throat
Eye
Bamberger & Oswald (2012)

4. Category
Researcher/author
Gastrointestinal
Bamberger & Oswald (2012)
Steinzor (2013)
Ferrar et al. (2013)
Muscle/joint pain
Neurological
Tustin (2016)
Jemielita (2015)
McKenzie (2012)
Respiratory
Rasmussen (2016)
Webb (2016)
Rabinowitz (2014)
Subra (2009)
Cardiology

5. EHP Findings for a Sub-Set of Clients
SYMPTOM CATEGORY
SYMPTOM
N = 61
UPPER RESPIRATORY SYMPTOMS
Sinus pain or infections 17
Nose or throat irritation 25
Nose bleeds 8
ANY UPPER RESPIRATORY SYMPTOM 39
NEUROLOGICAL SYMPTOMS
Head ache
Memory loss
Numbness 9
Dizziness 11
ANY NEUROLOGICAL SYMPTOM 32
LOWER RESPIRATORY SYMPTOMS
Wheezing 14
SOB 19
Cough 21
ANY LOWER RESPIRATORY SYMPTOM 30

6. GASTRO-INTESTINAL SYMPTOMS
Nausea 13
Abdominal pain 12
ANY GASTRO-INTESTINAL SYMPTOM 27
PSYCHIATRIC SYMPTOMS
Stress or anxiety 23
Irritable or moody
Sleep disruption 26
ANY PSYCHIATRIC SYMPTOM 39
EYE SYMPTOMS
Itchy eyes 11
Painful or dry 10
ANY EYE SYMPTOM

7. DERMATOLOGICAL SYMPTOMS
Lesions or blisters 6
Rash 10
ANY DERMATOLOGICAL SYMPTOM 19
CONSTITUTIONAL SYMPTOMS
Fatigue 13
Weak or Drowsy 9
ANY CONSTITUTIONAL SYMPTOM 18
CARDIAC SYMPTOMS
Palpitation
Chest pain
ANY CARDIAC SYMPTOM 17
HEARING CHANGES / TINNITUS
Tinnitus
ANY HEARING CHANGES OR TINNITUS
MUSCULOSKELETAL SYMPTOMS
Painful joints
Aches 7
ANY MUSCULOSKELETAL SYMPTOM

8. Children are not little adults

9. Children … have higher respiratory rates
accumulate more toxics in their bodies
have developing lungs and narrower airways
spend more time engaged in vigorous outside activity
have developing brains -- toxic agents interfere with developmental processes

10. Health Impact Assessments and Your Community’s Health
Permit Applications
Health Impact Assessments
and Your Community’s Health

11. Standards and Reference Values
Formaldehyde
Gluteraldehyde
Toluene
Particulate
Matter

12. Categories of risk/safety
How do we consider risk?
Categories of risk/safety
EPA reference doses & concentrations
ATSDR
NAAQS
OEHHA
Consider or characterize risk levels
EPA through it’s Integrated Risk Information System (IRIS)
ATSDR reference values
California’s Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment;
And sort of different level National Ambient Air Quality Standards.
The first three are tied to existing research related to human health effects and research done in labs. They are often focused on a threshold like a level of exposure below which a person is unlikely to experience a health effect. Often not levels for children but they’ll introduce a safety or uncertainty factor. The CA OEHHA has developed some levels for children, but only 12 chemicals thus far.

13. For More Information __________________