265164 Community members' perceived health impacts associated with Marcellus Shale drilling and production

Tuesday, October 30, 2012 : 11:10 AM - 11:30 AM

Kyle John Ferrar, MPH , Environmental and Occupational Health department, Center for Healthy Environments and Communities, University of Pittsburgh Graduate School of Public Health, Pittsburgh, PA
Lynne Pavlic Marshall , Epidemiology, University of Pittsburgh Graduate School of Public Health, Pittsburgh, PA
Jill Kriesky, PhD , Center for Healthy Environments and Communities, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA
Samantha Malone, MPH, CPH , Environmental and Occupational Health department, Center for Healthy Environments and Communities, University of Pittsburgh Graduate School of Public Health, Pittsburgh, PA
Charles Christen, DrPH, MEd , Environmental and Occupational Health department, Center for Healthy Environments and Communities, University of Pittsburgh Graduate School of Public Health, Pittsburgh, PA
Ravi K. Sharma, PhD , Department of Behavioral and Community Health Sciences, University of Pittsburgh, Graduate School of Public Health, Pittsburg, PA
     
Marcellus Shale unconventional natural gas development has been growing quickly and disproportionately in Pennsylvania communities since 2007, with the first wells drilled as early as 2002. Health impact assessments (HIAs) conducted in communities near unconventional gas drilling in other U.S. shale plays have indicated a disproportionate presence of health risks, due to the impact of unconventional natural gas extraction on the environment. While an HIA or an epidemiological study has not yet been conducted in Pennsylvania, many groups and communities have called for them. In response, thirty community members (n=30) living in proximity to drilling activity were surveyed for health complaints and impacts concerning themselves, their family, and community. Two interviews were conducted with each participant, the first in 2010 and the second 20 months later, in 2012. The impact of increasing development on perceived health impacts over the study period was measured through changes in the participants' systematic responses. The Interviews were transcribed and then coded according to histological systems, and symptom counts were calculated for each interview. The correlation of symptom counts to density of Marcellus Shale operations was measured. A list of symptoms was compiled for future research, and the majority matched those listed for the chemicals included on the material safety data sheets (MSDSs) for Marcellus shale operations. Symptom scores for each participant were compared temporally using statistical tests for related samples. Results showed an increase in symptom counts for the second set of interviews. Based on this analysis, symptoms and concerns of individuals are increasing, or worsening, in communities proximal to Marcellus Shale development. More research including HIAs and an epidemiological study are necessary to further investigate a potential link between Marcellus Shale drilling activities and human health impacts.

Learning Areas:
Environmental health sciences
Public health or related public policy

Learning Objectives:
1. Identify health symptoms and impacts associated with Marcellus Shale operations. 2. Measure the correlation of number of perceived health impacts to density of Marcellus Shale operations. 3. Explain how perceived health impacts attributed to Marcellus Shale activities have changed for Pennsylvania community members over a period of 20 months. 4. Determine whether health impact assessments and an epidemiological study are necessary for measuring the effect of the Marcellus Shale gas extraction industry on community health.

Keywords: Community Health, Assessments

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I have been well trained in evaluating environmental and community health through my student research with the Center for Healthy Environments and Communities for the last 5 years. For three years my focus has been the environmental impacts associated with the Marcellus Shale industry.
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.

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