Evaluating potential human health risks from modeled inhalation exposures to volatile organic compounds emitted from oil and gas operations
Some states and localities restrict siting of new oil and gas (O&G) wells relative to public areas. Colorado includes a 500-foot exception zone for building units, but it is unclear if that sufficiently protects public health from air emissions from O&G operations. To support reviews of setback requirements, this research examines potential health risks from volatile organic compounds (VOCs) released during O&G operations.
We used stochastic dispersion modeling with published emissions for 47 VOCs (collected on-site during tracer experiments) to estimate outdoor air concentrations within 2,000 feet of hypothetical individual O&G facilities in Colorado. We estimated distributions of incremental acute, subchronic, and chronic inhalation non-cancer hazard quotients (HQs) and hazard indices (HIs), and inhalation lifetime cancer risks for benzene, by coupling modeled concentrations with microenvironmental penetration factors, human-activity diaries, and health-criteria levels.
Estimated exposures to most VOCs were below health criteria at 500–2,000 feet. HQs were < 1 for 43 VOCs at 500 feet from facilities, with lowest values for chronic exposures during O&G production. Hazard estimates were highest for acute exposures during O&G development, with maximum acute HQs and HIs > 1 at most distances from facilities, particularly for exposures to benzene, 2- and 3-ethyltoluene, and toluene, and for hematological, neurotoxicity, and respiratory effects. Maximum acute HQs and HIs were > 10 for highest-exposed individuals 500 feet from eight of nine modeled facilities during O&G development (and 2,000 feet from one facility during O&G flowback); hematologic toxicity associated with benzene exposure was the critical toxic effect. Estimated cancer risks from benzene exposure were < 1.0 × 10−5 at 500 feet and beyond.
Implications: Our stochastic use of emissions data from O&G facilities, along with activity-pattern exposure modeling, provides new information on potential public-health impacts due to emissions from O&G operations. The results will help in evaluating the adequacy of O&G setback distances. For an assessment of human-health risks from exposures to air emissions near individual O&G sites, we have utilized a unique dataset of tracer-derived emissions of VOCs detected at such sites in two regions of intense oil-and-gas development in Colorado. We have coupled these emission stochastically with local meteorological data and population and time-activity data to estimate the potential for acute, subchronic, and chronic exposures above health-criteria levels due to air emissions near individual sites. These results, along with other pertinent health and exposure data, can be used to inform setback distances to protect public health.
