Academic Research

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Published Research | Non Peer-reviewed Reports | Argonne National Library Reports

Stay Informed

2010-12 Conferences: Health Effects of Shale Gas Extraction

These three annual conferences were hosted by the University of Pittsburgh Graduate School of Public Health and held in Pittsburgh, PA. Visit the conference web site to view conference videos and keep updated on the 2014 conference details.

Published Research

To search a more comprehensive database of academic publications, visit Bucknell’s Marcellus Shale Initiative site or CMU’s A Research Guide to the Marcellus and Utica Shales.

Health Studies

• Bamberger, M., Oswald, R. (2012). Impacts of Gas Drilling on Animal and Human Health. New Solutions: A Journal of Environmental and Occupational Health, 22(1): 51-77.
• Bishop RE. 2011. Chemical and Biological Risk Assessment for Natural Gas Extraction in New York, State University of New York.
• Colborn T, Kwiatkowski C, Schultz K, Bachran M. 2012. Natural Gas Operations from a Public Health Perspective, Human and Ecological Risk Assessment: an International Journal  17(5):1039-1056.
• Goldstein BD, Kriesky J, Pavliakova B. 2012. Missing from the Table: Role of the Environmental Public Health Community in Governmental Advisory Commissions Related to Marcellus Shale Drilling. Environ Health Perspect 120(4). http://dx.doi.org/10.1289/ehp.1104594
• Litovitz A et al. 2013. Estimation of regional air-quality damages from Marcellus Shale natural gas extraction in Pennsylvania. Environ. Res. Lett. 8 014017.
• McKenzie L, Witter RZ, Newman LS, Adgate JL. 2012. Human Health Risk Assessment of Air Emissions from Development of Unconventional Natural Gas Resources, Science of the Total Environment, 424:79-87.
• Vandenberg LN, Colborn T, Hayes TB, Heindel JJ, Jacobs Jr. DR, Lee D, Shioda T, Soto AM, vom Saal FS, Welshons WV, Zoeller RT, Myers JP. 2012. Hormones and Endocrine-Disrupting Chemicals: Low-Dose Effects and Nonmonotonic Dose Responses, Endocrine Reviews. - Plus a separate peer-reviewed study released in September 2012 identifying 649 chemicals used during natural gas production; more than 130 could affect the endocrine system.
• Witter RZ et al. 2008. Human Health Effects of Oil & Gas Development. While more research is needed to properly assess risk, Witter said volatile organic compounds churned into the atmosphere by the industry present risks that are well-known.  White Paper (PDF) | Literature Review (PDF)

See a report or study that should be listed here, let us know!

Non-Health, Peer-Reviewed Studies

• Weltman-Fahs, Maya (02/2013). Hydraulic Fracturing and Brook Trout Habitat in the Marcellus Shale Region: Potential Impacts and Research Needs. Fisheries (Bethesda) (0363-2415), 38 (1), p. 4.
  
• Field Validation of Toxicity Tests to Evaluate the Potential for Beneficial Use of Produced Water.  Conducted by the Department of Zoology, Oklahoma State University. PDF
• Local Leaders’ Perceptions of Energy Development in the Barnett Shale. By Anderson B, & Theodori G Read more
• Methane and the greenhouse-gas footprint of natural gas from shale formations. By Robert Howarth, Renee Santoro and Anthony Ingraffea, Cornell University. Link
• Methane Contamination of Drinking Water Accompanying Gas-Well Drilling and Hydraulic Fracturing. Duke University. Available via ProPublica.org. Read more
• Modeling Simultaneous Growth of Multiple Hydraulic Fractures and Their Interaction With Natural Fractures. By Olson and Dahi-Taleghani. Read more
• The Not-So-Safe Drinking Water Act: Why We Must Regulate Hydraulic Fracturing at the Federal Level. By Angela Cupas, William and Mary Environmental Law and Policy Review. Read more

See a report or study that should be listed here, let us know!

Other Important Reports and Resources

• Arkansas Public Policy Panel - Series of reports on natural gas drilling in Arkansas - Model Oil and Gas Laws, Regulations and Ordinances  |  Executive Summary | Full Report
• Comparing Pennsylvania and Texas Law on Ownership and Marital Rights: Common Law v. Community Property—Impact On Oil and Gas Leasing. PDF
• Energy Boomtowns & Natural Gas: Implications for Marcellus Shale Local Governments & Rural Communities. By Northeast Regional Center for Rural Development, Penn State University. PDF
• Gas Patch Roulette: How Shale Gas Development Risks Public Health in PA. By Earthworks’ Oil & Gas Accountability Project. PDF
• Impacts to USDWs by Hydraulic Fracturing: Study to Evaluate the Impacts to USDWs by Hydraulic Fracturing of Coalbed Methane Reservoirs. By USEPA. Report
• In the Shadow of the Marcellus Boom. By PennEnvironment. Read more
• Lifecycle Greenhouse Gas Emissions from Shale Gas Compared to Coal: An Analysis of Two Conflicting Studies. By Post Carbon Institute (July 2011). PDF
• Manual for Private Well Owners – By Brian Oram, PG; Dr. Sid Halsor, PG; and Dr. Brian Redmond, PG, Wilkes University. PDF
• Marcellus Shale Natural Gas: From the Ground to the Customer. A Study Guide by the League of Women Voters Study Guide. PDF
• Natural Gases in Ground Water: 2007 U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Scientific Investigations Report. By Breen KJ, Révész K, Baldassare FJ, McAuley SD. Read more
• Oil Drilling News from Oil & Gas Journal. Read more
• PennState College of Agricultural Studies: Website offers extensive resources & presentations on topics related to Marcellus Shale Gas Extraction. Explore
• PPHA Presentations by CHEC Staff
  In 2011, the Pennsylvania Public Health Association (PPHA) held a luncheon talk & a full session on the concerns associated with intense development in the Marcellus Shale field. See below for presentations by Center for Healthy Environments and Communities staff members & affiliates:
  • Bernard D. Goldstein, MD - Luncheon Speaker
  • Kyle Ferrar, MPH - Marcellus Shale Drilling & Hydraulic Fracturing: Technicalities & Controversies
  • Drew Michanowicz, MPH, CPH - Potential Ecological Effects of Marcellus Shale Activities
  • Samantha Malone, MPH, CPH - Community Health & Public Health Preparedness in the Marcellus Shale Era
• Will Natural Gas Fuel America in the 21st Century? By Post Carbon Institute. Read more

See a report or study that should be listed here, let us know!

Argonne Reports

The following publications were compiled by Argonne National Library’s Environmental Sciences Division:

• Water Management Technologies Used by Marcellus Shale Gas Producers: PDF
• Produced Water Volumes and Management Practices in the United States: PDF
• Thermal Distillation Technology for Management of Produced Water and Frac Flowback Water: PDF
• Water Issues Associated with Heavy Oil Production: PDF
• Testimony of John A. Veil, Argonne National Laboratory, Before the House Committee on Science and Technology Subcommittee on Energy and Environment Concerning: “Research to Improve Water-Use Efficiency and Conservation: Technologies and Practice”: PDF
• Life-Cycle Thinking for the Oil and Gas Exploration and Production Industry: PDF
• Trip Report for Field Visit to Fayetteville Gas Wells: PDF
• Potential Ground Water and Surface Water Impacts from Oil Shale and Tar Sands Energy-Production Operations
• Exploration and Production Waste Disposal Database: Excel Doc(excel doc)
• Offsite Commercial Disposal of Oil and Gas Exploration and Production Waste: Availability, Options, and Costs: PDF
• Summary of DOE/PERF Water Program Review, November 1-4, 2005, Annapolis, Maryland: PDF
• Downhole Separation Technology Performance: Relationship to Geologic Conditions: PDF
• A White Paper Describing Produced Water from Production of Crude Oil, Natural Gas, and Coal Bed Methane: PDF
• An Introduction to Salt Caverns and Their Use for Disposal of Oil Field Wastes: PDF
• An Introduction to Slurry Injection Technology for Disposal of Drilling Wastes: PDF
• Evaluation of Slurry Injection Technology for Management of Drilling Wastes: PDF
• Compendium of Regulatory Requirements Governing Underground Injection of Drilling Wastes: PDF
• Analysis of Data from a Downhole Oil/Water Separator Field Trial in East Texas: PDF
• Summary of Data from DOE-Subsidized Field Trial #1 of Downhole Oil/Water Separator Technology, Texaco Well Bilbrey 30-Federal No. 5 Lea County, New Mexico:PDF
• Update on Onshore Disposal of Offshore Drilling Wastes: PDF
• Disposal of NORM-Contaminated Oil Field Wastes in Salt Caverns: PDF
• Risk Analyses for Disposing of Nonhazardous Oil Field Wastes in Salt Caverns: PDF
• Preliminary Technical and Legal Evaluation of Disposing of Nonhazardous Oil Field Waste into Salt Caverns: PDF
• Potential environmental benefits from regulatory consideration of synthetic drilling muds: PDF
• Feasibility Evaluation of Downhole Oil/Water Separator (DOWS) Technology: PDF
• Costs for Off-Site Disposal of Nonhazardous Oil Field Wastes: Salt Caverns versus Other Disposal Methods: PDF
• Surface Water Discharges from Onshore Stripper Wells: PDF

See a report or study on this page that should be listed here, let us know!

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