Crispin Pierce, Ph.D.
MREA Energy Fair, June 19, 2010
The Use of Fracturing (“Frac”) Sand for Oil
And Natural Gas Extraction.
 Wisconsin Locations of Current and
Proposed Frac Sand Mines and
Processing Plants.
 Health Effects Associated with Sand
Mining and Processing.
 Comparison of Oil/Gas Health Risks to
Those from Other Sources of Energy
 Recommendations

"Fracturing" (frac) sand is used in the
extraction of gas and oil from shale
formations.
 The sand, along with water and chemicals,
is injected under high pressure to fracture
the shale for extraction.
 Wisconsin has highly-prized sand for this
purpose, with a high content of crystalline
silica.


Existing: Maiden Rock, Taylor, Portage,
Fairwater, Menomonie

Proposed or in construction: Chippewa
Falls, Marshfield, Preston/Blair

Discussion Stage: Town of Arland, Town
of Almena
FOCUS: Airborne pollutants that can be
inhaled.
 Waterborne pollutants that can be
ingested.
 Noise pollution that can be heard.
 Light pollution that can be seen.
 Truck traffic that affects rural road safety.


Many factors contribute to the potential
health risks from an industrial operation:
The type and rates of chemicals being emitted
to the air, water, and soil.
 The degree of contact between these
chemicals and the public.
 The way that these chemicals cause shortterm and long-term damage to people.








Increased respiratory symptoms, such as
irritation of the airways, coughing, or difficulty
breathing, for example;
Decreased lung function;
Aggravated asthma;
Development of chronic bronchitis;
Irregular heartbeat;
Nonfatal heart attacks; and
Premature death in people with heart or lung
disease.
The mining and processing activities
generate PM through mining, blasting,
transporting, processing, and storing the
“frac sand” and “waste sand” in large piles.
 The “waste sand” has more of the very
small “fines” and so is more dangerous.
 Diesel trucks and trains emit small
particles that also cause cancer.

Silicosis –a fibrosis (scarring) of the lungs.
Silicosis is progressive and leads to
disability and death.
 About 200 people in the US will die this
year due to workplace exposure to silica
(NIOSH 2008).
 Many more will die with silicosis as a
contributing factor.


Silicosis: Crude mortality rates by state, U.S. residents age 15 and over, 1991-1992.

SOURCE: National Center for Health Statistics multiple cause of death data. Population estimates from
U.S. Bureau of the Census.
http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/docs/96-134/pdfs/96-134e.pdf
• Like asbestos, it is the size and
shape of the silica particles that
make them so dangerous.
• The most dangerous size
particles are called PM2.5 which
are 2.5 micrometers (µm) in
diameter or smaller.
• These particles go into the
deepest part of the lung (alveoli)
and cause inflammation, silicosis,
and lung cancer.

Lung Cancer – Crystalline silica (quartz)
inhaled is classified as a carcinogen. The
following agencies have classified crystalline
silica as a human carcinogen:






International Agency for Research on Cancer
(IARC)
National Toxicology Program
California Proposition 65
American Conference of Governmental
Industrial Hygienists
Occupational Safety and Health
Administration - Potential Cancer Hazard
National Institute for Occupational Safety and
Health (NIOSH) – Potential Cancer Hazard

Tuberculosis – Silicosis increases the risk of
tuberculosis.

Autoimmune and Chronic Kidney Disease – Some
studies show excess numbers of cases of
scleroderma, connective tissue disorders, lupus,
rheumatoid arthritis, chronic kidney diseases and endstage kidney disease.

Non-Malignant Respiratory Diseases (other than
Silicosis) – Some studies show an increased incidence
in chronic bronchitis and emphysema in workers.
“Silica is in all agricultural soils, so it can’t
be risky.”
 Silica is a natural component of soils.
However, the “freshly-fractured” silica from
mining and processing operations appears
to be about 2-5 times more toxic than the
“weathered” silica from soils .

“The particulates from sand are just like
wood smoke, nothing to be concerned
about.”
 The specific size and shape of crystalline
silica particles make them especially
dangerous (like asbestos).

“It’s just like beach sand.”
 Most of the dangerous crystalline silica is
in the cement that holds the sand grains
together in the sandstone formation.
 Blasting and digging in this formation, as
well as transporting, crushing, sifting and
pouring of the sand grains create airborne
crystalline silica.
 Beach sand is wet – it takes new highcapacity wells to control the many sources
of dry sand/silica dust.


Dust emissions for many processes are
not considered by the DNR. These
include,
the large surge pile of sand;
 frac and waste sand movement between
operations; and
 emissions from the road.


These emissions would include crystalline
silica, a known human carcinogen.

The Department of Natural Resources
admits that crystalline silica is a human
carcinogen, but is not regulating it as a
hazardous air pollutant (NR 445). DNR
was required to provide a report by July 1,
2006 but has not yet done so. A study has
now begun.
There are few silica exposure limits for the
general public. However, the State of
California has adopted a level of 3 ug/m3
as safe.
 The DNR estimated a maximum
concentration of silica from the Chippewa
Falls plant of 4 ug/m3 (even without
considering “fugitive” dust). However,
DNR staff took the position that silica
cannot be regulated at this time.


The Trempealeau County Environment
and Land Committee set a “goal” of 30
ug/m3 PM10 for the Preston/Blair sand
plant.
Diesel exhaust from truck traffic is
carcinogenic.
 Sensitive receptors (children, elderly,
those living in health care facilities) should
be considered.

Haddad and Dones, IAEA

Prior to any permit issuance, perform a risk
assessment to include the following:
Estimate exposure to crystalline silica and
compare this to a risk standard, such as the
California OEHHA 3 ug/m3 limit.
 Include all dust (PM) emissions.
 Include diesel truck and train emissions.
 Consider sensitive groups who could be
affected.

Crispin H. Pierce, Ph.D.
 Associate Professor / Program Director
 Department of Public Health Professions
 244 Nursing
 University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire
 Eau Claire, WI 54702-4004
 (715) 836-5589 piercech@uwec.edu
 http://www.uwec.edu/piercech
 http://www.uwec.edu/ph/enph/

Photo: OHVEC.org