Passive wristband samplers assess PAH exposure of individuals living near natural gas extraction

摘要

Natural gas extraction (NGE) has expanded rapidly in the United States in the last 15 years. Air emissions are a major pathway through which NGE may impact the health of nearby communities and workers. However, no study has directly measured the individual exposures of people living or working near NGE. Recent research has suggested that NGE emits polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). This study used passive wristband samplers (PWS) to measure individual PAH exposures in a rural Ohio community with a high density of NGE activity. Volunteers were identified through collaboration with a local concerned citizens group, and the study engaged participants as citizen scientists. Participants (n=23) each wore one PWS for 20-22 days in May 2014. Participants were asked to complete daily exposure and health logs. We had over 91% participant compliance with the PWS. Each PWS was analyzed for 62 PAHs using GC-MS/MS and the total levels were summed (IPAH). Results were divided into three groups: active NGE well reported on participant's property (n=3), active NGE well reported on neighbor's property (n=4), and no active NGE well reported on property (n=14). These groups corresponded to participants living less than 0.75 km, between 0.75 and 2.0 km, and farther than 2.0 km from an active NGE well, respectively. IPAH levels were significantly higher in PWS from participants who had NGE wells on their property than in PWS from participants without NGE wells on their property (Wilcoxon Rank Sum Test, p < 0.05). Median IPAH was more than four-fold higher in PWS of participants living within 0.75 km of active NGE wells than in PWS of participants living farther than 2.0 km from active NGE wells. Additionally, IPAH in PWS was not correlated with primary or secondary exposure to cigarette smoking, as reported in the daily health logs (r2 = 0.01). These findings suggest that having an NGE well on your home property may increase personal exposure to PAHs.