Residential Air Quality Changes Due to Marcellus Shale Gas Development in Pennsylvania Mapping the Implications
Open Access
- Author:
- Banan, Zoya
- Graduate Program:
- Energy and Mineral Engineering
- Degree:
- Doctor of Philosophy
- Document Type:
- Dissertation
- Date of Defense:
- June 14, 2019
- Committee Members:
- Jeremy Michael Gernand, Dissertation Advisor/Co-Advisor
Jeremy Michael Gernand, Committee Chair/Co-Chair
Mort D Webster, Committee Member
William Arthur Groves, Committee Member
Kenneth James Davis, Outside Member - Keywords:
- Setback Policy
Health Impact
Fine Particulate Matter
Gaussian Plume Model
Air Quality Regulation
Aerosol Dispersion - Abstract:
- During the past decade, technological innovations in drilling and hydraulic fracturing have led to extensive exploration and development of shale gas. Proximity of these developments to some residential areas have triggered public concern regarding potential changes in air quality and increased incidence of health outcomes due to air pollutant emissions from these activities. In the United States, states with current development in shale gas basins have set different minimum distances from the wellsite (i.e., setback distance) to reduce the health risks corresponding to the emissions from activities at these locations, but it is unclear whether these policies are sufficient to control the risks. As shale gas has maintained its place as a critical source of energy, there is a need for a thorough investigation of air quality changes due to such development. This research is aimed to fill the gap between shale gas development and the expected impacts on human health. The primary objectives of this research are twofold: 1) to evaluate the sufficiency of current setback policy in Pennsylvania to provide public health protection from exposure to fine particulate matter (PM2.5) emissions within the vicinity of shale gas wellsites; and 2) to determine the technical and logistic factors to serve as basis in designation of air quality and health protection regulations. These objectives were implemented by the use of three analytical approaches: 1) study of concentration exceedance of EPA standard for PM2.5 emissions within the vicinity of a generic wellsite in Marcellus Shale gas region of Pennsylvania; 2) evaluation of concentration exceedance within the vicinity of developed shale gas wells between 2005 and 2017 in this area; and 3) quantification of emission exposure risk and incidence of health outcomes associated with PM2.5 emissions within the vicinity of developed wells in Pennsylvania. Results demonstrate that setback policy in Pennsylvania may not be adequate to maintain PM2.5 concentrations below the standard in residential areas downwind from shale gas wellsites. These findings indicate that despite similar levels of development in some areas, the impacts on population were heterogeneous. This emphasizes the need for setback distance to be revised based on level of development activities as well as spatial characteristics, such as local population density, and prevailing weather patterns, within the vicinity of wells. Consideration of these details can provide the basis for better and more effective health risk reduction policy at local and state level.