Measurement of area and personal breathing zone concentrations of diesel particulate matter (DPM) during oil and gas extraction operations, including hydraulic fracturing

Abstract

Diesel engines serve many purposes in modern oil and gas extraction activities. Diesel particulate matter (DPM) emitted from diesel engines is a complex aerosol that may cause adverse health effects depending on exposure dose and duration. This study reports on personal breathing zone (PBZ) and area measurements for DPM (expressed as elemental carbon) during oil and gas extraction operations including drilling, completions (which includes hydraulic fracturing) and servicing work. Researchers at the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) collected 104 full-shift air samples (49 PBZ and 55 area) in Colorado, North Dakota, Texas, and New Mexico during a four year period from 2008-2012 The arithmetic mean (AM) of the full shift TWA PBZ samples was 10 μg/m3; measurements ranged from 0.1 to 52 μg/m3. The geometric mean (GM) for the PBZ samples was 7 μg/m3. The AM of the TWA area measurements was 17 μg/m3 and ranged from 0.1 to 68 μg/m3. The GM for the area measurements was 9.5 μg/m3. Differences between the GMs of the PBZ samples and area samples were not statistically different (P>0.05). Neither the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), NIOSH, nor the American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH) have established occupational exposure limits (OEL) for DPM. However, the State of California, Department of Health Services lists a time-weighted average (TWA) OEL for DPM as elemental carbon (EC) exposure of 20 μg/m3. Five of 49 (10.2%) PBZ TWA measurements exceeded the 20 μg/m3 EC criterion. These measurements were collected on Sandmover and Transfer Belt (T-belt) Operators, Blender and Chemical Truck Operators, and Water Transfer Operators during hydraulic fracturing operations. Recommendations to minimize DPM exposures include elimination (locating diesel-driven pumps away from well sites), substitution, (use of alternative fuels), engineering controls using advanced emissions controls technologies, administrative controls (configuration of well sites), hazard communication and worker training.

Health conditions in retired manual labor miners and oil and gas extraction workers: National Health Interview Survey, 2007–2017

“…Mining and oil and gas extraction (OGE) are industries with chronically poorer health compared with the general working population 1–8 . Data from the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)National Occupational Mortality Surveillance (NOMS) system have demonstrated excessive mortality in miners from heart disease, renal disease, and several types of cancers, including laryngeal, prostate, bladder, and kidney 9 ; and in OGE workers, from Parkinson's disease, heart disease, and cancers (mesothelioma, prostate, bladder, and kidney) 10…”

Real-Time Measurement of Airborne Carbon Nanotubes in Workplace Atmospheres

“…DPM was used in this study to mimic the background carbonaceous interfering agent, because it is present in many workplace aerosols ,− and may potentially interfere with selective CNT measurement. Raman spectra of the certified DPM standard and the corresponding calibration curves are shown in Figure S5.…”

Cytotoxicity of Air Pollutant 9,10-Phenanthrenequinone: Role of Reactive Oxygen Species and Redox Signaling

“…Since this historical air pollution episode, a large number of studies have demonstrated the association between air pollution and human disease including respiratory and lung diseases such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, asthma attacks, pulmonary cancer, leukemia, birth defects and immune system defects, cardiovascular problems, heart disease and stroke, neurobehavioral disorders, and liver and other types of cancer [ 4 – 18 ]. Diesel combustion to generate power has existed for well over a century and is used in heavy machinery such as large trucks and oil tankers [ 19 – 22 ]. The mechanism by which diesel exhaust impacts human health is being studied extensively [ 23 – 31 ].…”