Study Finds Emissions from South Texas Fracking ‘Within Federally Mandated Acceptable Limits’
Sunday August 28, 2016
A new study from researchers at the University of Texas at Arlington (UTA) found that ambient emissions in and around hydraulic fracturing (fracking) sites in South Texas’ Eagle Ford Shale are within acceptable limits – with some compounds at levels measuring only a small fraction of the federal standard. As one of the study authors, Kevin Schug, mentions in the press release:
“We found that ambient BTEX compound emission in and around fracking sites are within the federal mandated acceptable limits for short-term exposure,”
The study, “Point source attribution of ambient contamination events near unconventional oil and gas development”, focused specifically at levels of ambient BTEX, or benzene, toluene, ethyl benzene, and xylene compounds, near fracking sites in the Eagle Ford. Collecting data from over 12,800 mobile mass spectrometry measurements across 13 counties, the authors determined that while BTEX compounds were registered, the levels were well below federal safety standards. For example, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) cites 1000 parts-per-billion (ppb) as a permissible exposure limit (PEL) for benzene over an eight hour period. The levels of ambient benzene around the sites tested did not exceed this limit, as the authors note:
“Benzene concentrations did not exceed the 1000 ppb OSHA standard level on any of the six pad sites; however, there were a number of individual measurements above the 500 ppb threshold, particularly on pads 1 and 6.” (p. 386; emphasis added)
The researchers also note that the levels of ambient toluene and xylene also did not exceed the federally mandated limits. In fact, the levels tested were 40 and 100 times less, respectively, than the OSHA and US National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) limits. According to the study:
“Toluene was found to be the most prevalent air contaminant, though ambient toluene concentrations did not exceed 5000 ppb, which is well below the OSHA PEL and NIOSH REL [recommended exposure limit] of 200,000 and 100,000 ppb, respectively.” (p. 386; emphasis added)
The study continues:
“S...