Health Effects Associated with Stack Chemical Emissions from NYS Natural Gas Compressor Stations: 2008-2014 A Technical Report Prepared for the Southwest Pennsylvania Environmental Health Project D.O. Carpenter, MD and P.N. Russo Funded by the Park Foundation SWPA-EHP Presentation: David Brown, ScD Sujit Joginpally, MD, MBA, MPA, MAS Celia Lewis, PhD October 12, 2017
Title V Compressor Stations
Document Organization: What parts are most important for communities? First Sections to Read: *Letter from Raina Rippel, Director of EHP *Executive summary Focus is on impact of total releases p 17 *Introduction p 31 Purpose of the report details our concerns about lack of information on health impacts p 11 4 chapters in the Report: 1) Background general information on the topic 2) Chemical releases describes the amount of emissions by geographic impact and population impact 3) Health effects of releases which chemicals cause which diseases 4) Health effects associated with chemicals released at each station
Executive Summary 60 UNGD compressors in the State 18 are Title V Summarizes total emission releases by: Amount - 40.2 million pounds over 7 years Chemicals 70 chemicals reported to NEI Emissions Impact by geographic area: NY region, county by population size ( 2 to 20 mile radius) List of 18 Disease categories associated with these chemicals p.25
Peer Reviewed Literature
Permits and Regulations (p.81) Air Title V permits: Point Sources: Large emitting facilities that are judged to be major under the department's regulations, or that are subject to New Source Performance Standards, and to other requirements regulating hazardous air pollutants such as federal acid rain program requirements. State Facility permits: Nonpoint Sources: Large emitting facilities actual emissions exceed 50% of major facilities (such as Title V) May have been granted variances under the department's air regulations May be new facilities that are subject to New Source Performance Standards or that emit hazardous air pollutants.
Total chemical releases by weight
How a Person reads the Document How close is too close? What are the health implications? What are the levels of exposure?
Compressors on natural gas pipelines release mixtures of chemicals
Report shows chemicals emitted and the toxic effects Chapter 2 tables show the chemicals and amounts emitted. 95% of emissions are involve 7 chemical classes. Chapter 3 tables show the chemicals linked to each health effect. Primary health effects involve the respiratory system, nervous system, circulatory system, reproduction and cancer.
Amount of emissions at each location Chapter 4 shows amount of emissions linked to specific health effects at each of the 18 locations amounts range from a high of 1,500,000 pounds to a low of 32,000 pounds/year 6 stations are 350,000 to 1,500,000 pounds 6 stations are 150,000 to 350,000 pounds 6 stations are 32,000 to 150,000 pounds
Health risk is determined by amount and the number of hours that the chemical is inhaled Hours and amount of exposure are determined by topography, distance and wind direction: Exposure 1/2 mile from a source that emits 5 tons/year (10,000 pounds) is about; Average 80 ug/m3 (ranging from 20 to 250ug/m3) 25% of hours exceeds 166 ug/m3 Exposures extend for 6 miles and vary wind direction.
Five major chemical emissions from New York Compressor stations Nitrogen oxides (45%) Carbon monoxide (31%) Formaldehyde (3%) PM 2.5 particulate matter (3%) Volatile Organic Hydrocarbons (12%) (28 compounds)
What chemicals affect the respiratory System? (page 201)
What chemicals affect the mental and behavioral disorders? (page 169)
What chemicals affect the circulatory System? (page 195)
Average annual pounds of chemicals released from a single facility and Health Effects A) 106,158 pounds of lower respiratory organ toxics. B) 282. 933 pounds of upper respiratory system toxics C) 102, 539 pounds of circulatory system toxics. D) 154, 887 pounds of Mental and behavioral disorders toxics E) Total releases 287, 639 pounds*
Three important Factors that determine intensity of health responses Chemicals in the mixtures interact to increase intensity and frequency of health effects. Ambient air levels vary up to 10 times over baseline 3 to 10 hours a week. Chemicals have multiple effects and may bioaccumulate
Yearly impact based on ambient air Model 2016 weather data North 1/2 mile east 25% of hours exceed 69 10% exceed 150 ug/m3 West Compressor station East school South 1 mile east 25% of hours exceed 26 10% exceed 100 ug/m3 Emission 300 gms/hour =3 tons/year or 6000 #/year
Ambient air H2S over three days
Federal and State laws and regulations are designed to protect the general health of regional populations and not to protect a single group of locally exposed persons.
Regulations set to minimize health impact makes three critical and questionable assumptions: 1. Individual Chemicals vs. Mixed Chemicals: 31 chemicals associated with circulatory diseases like heart attacks and strokes.
Exposure to Multiple Chemicals with Similar Health Effects Chemical 1 Chemical 2 Chemical 3 Cardiovascular Effects Cardiovascular effects Cardiovascular effects Chemical 2 Chemical 1 Chemical 3 -The effect of being exposed to multiple carcinogens is not considered in EPA or DEC regulations Amplified Cardiovascular effects
2. Average vs. Acute exposures: - EPA guideline assumes exposures from a facility occur evenly over time. - In reality, chemicals released from facilities fluctuate widely. During times of peak exposures the individuals living or present near the compressor sites may get exposed to high concentrations, way above federal and state guidelines that consider safe.
3. Healthy vs. health compromised or particularly vulnerable populations: - With few exceptions, EPA and DEC guidelines assumes everyone at equal risk. - Populations at greater risk: Infants, elderly, immune-compromised individuals, and individuals with pre-existing conditions like COPD, Asthma, Congestive heart disease and other debilitating disorders.
Conceptual Model of Exposure Pathways Transport Medium Exposure Point Exposure Route Exposed Population Adopted from Indiana Department of Environmental Management
Five major Chemical emissions from New York Compressor stations
Major Chemicals released from Title V Compressor Stations NO 2 Sources: cars, trucks, power plants, off road equipment and compressor stations. Health effects: Short term: irritate airways, can aggravate respiratory diseases, particularly asthma and may lead to coughing, wheezing or difficulty breathing. Longer exposures: Development of asthma and increase susceptibility to respiratory infections. CO Sources: Cars, trucks, gas stoves, compressor stations, etc., Health effects: Replaces O 2 on Hemoglobin -> decrease O 2 to brain and heart High levels, possibly indoors, -> dizziness, confusion, unconsciousness and death Very high levels: Less likely outdoors, however elevated outdoor CO levels concerning for people with heart disease. VOC s: Health effects -> Eyes, nose and throat irritation, headaches and nausea, damage to liver, kidney and CNS. Some are known to cause to cause cancer in humans. Key signs or symptoms associated with exposure to VOCs include: Conjunctival irritation, nose and throat discomfort, headache, allergic skin reaction, dyspnea, decline in serum cholinesterase levels, nausea, epistaxis, fatigue and dizziness. Formaldehyde: Short term health effects: levels exceeding 0.1 ppm. Watery eyes, burning sensation in eyes, nose and throat, cough, wheezing, nausea and skin irritation. EPA classified formaldehyde as a probable carcinogen at high or prolonged exposure.
According to US Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry(ATSDR) Short term exposures: Exposure to maximum levels of PM2.5 may be harmful to unusually sensitive populations, such as those with respiratory or heart disease, but are not at levels that are a concern to the general population. Chronic exposures: The estimated annual average PM2.5 concentration of 15 to 16 μg/ may be harmful to the general population and sensitive subpopulations, including the elderly, children, and those with respiratory or heart disease. A serious synergistic toxic action Fine particles increase transport of toxics into deep lung DIESEL PARTICLE PM 2.5 RANGE Irritant gases WATER ADSORBED IRRITANT GAS ABSORBED IN WATER How particles increase exposure of irritants to the deep lungs Deep lung exposure to irritants
Major Health Effects Respiratory problems Skin irritation Cardiovascular Neurological Anxiety, stress and sleep deprivation Long term health issues: Maybe Cancer
What should you tell your physician/healthcare provider? Full description of your symptoms if they are related to chemicals released from CS Proximity of compressor station to your home/work Provide information on types of chemicals released from CS. Inform if they are more than one person in your family with similar symptoms.
Education Tools for Physicians/Healthcare Providers Medical Toolkit for Healthcare Providers http://www.environmentalhealthproject.org/he althcare-providers/medical-toolbox Environmental Health Channel http://envhealthchannel.org/
Questions?
Education Tools for Communities Citizen Science Toolkit http://environmentalhealthproject.org/citizen-science-toolkit Health Effects Registry http://environmentalhealthproject.org/health-effect-registry Environmental Health Channel http://envhealthchannel.org/ EHP Factsheets, technical papers, and other resources http://www.environmentalhealthproject.org/resources/researchfactsheets
For More Information www.environmentalhealthproject.org 724.260.5504 info@environmentalhealthproject.org
Five major chemical emissions from New York Compressor stations Nitrogen oxides (45%) health value 1.8 mg/m3 Carbon monoxide (31%) health value 40 mg/m3 Formaldehyde (3%) health value 19 ug/m3 PM 2.5 particulate matter (3%) health value 15 ug/m3 Volatile Organic Hydrocarbons (12%) (28 compounds) Health value 19 ug/m3 based on BTX Health values based on federal workplace standards