First-Ever Shale Health Office Opens
Nonprofit program to assess effects of rampant gas development
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
21 February 2012
By Don Hopey
A new, first-of-its-kind medical program to assess both the
individual and public health impacts of widespread Marcellus Shale
gas development has begun in Washington County.
The nonprofit Southwest Pennsylvania Environmental Health Project
opened an office in McMurray last week in response to what it
termed growing local and medical concerns over the potential
health effects from hazardous chemical and pollutant releases
associated with the rapid growth of shale gas development.
The nonprofit health project, funded by the Heinz Endowments, the
Pittsburgh Foundation and the Claneil Foundation, opened its
office last week on Washington Road in McMurray.
The office will help area residents recognize and understand
exposure pathways in the air and water, and schedule medical exams
and evaluations to diagnose health problems that may result from
them, said Raina Rippel, project director. An on-site Washington
County nurse practitioner is available by appointment for home
visits, exams and consultations, and already has conducted several
patient assessments.
"I've been out there in the communities, listening to residents.
We know there are public health impacts, but there is
uncertainty," Ms. Rippel said. "Our goal is to help individuals --
help them navigate the health care systems, help them get the
answers to the health care questions they have and put them in
contact with the resources they need, whether that's water testing
or filtration or medical services."
Washington County has about 700 Marcellus Shale gas wells -- more
than any other county in southwestern Pennsylvania -- and at least
a dozen compressor stations, which pump natural gas through
pipelines. Health impacts can occur from spills that contaminate
streams or water sources, or air pollution from drill rigs,
holding tanks, compressor stations and diesel truck traffic, Ms.
Rippel said.
Those impacts can include stomachaches and headaches, nosebleeds
and cognitive difficulties, as well as stress-related disorders,
said Dr. Leslie Walleigh, a project consultant and a physician
specializing in occupational and environmental medicine.
"We would expect, based on predictable exposures, that some
individuals will experience respiratory symptoms, with worsening
of underlying asthma and other lung diseases, and possibly the new
onset of asthma," Dr. Walleigh said. "We also expect to see
conditions related to the emotional and psychological stress
resulting from the personal, family and community life disruption
stemming from the shale gas activities."
She urged Washington County residents who are worried about their
health because of exposure to shale gas development activities to
stop at the program's office or call for an appointment. The
program plans to offer all services free of charge to area
residents, she said.
In addition to providing individual medical care, the program is
the first in the nation to attempt to assess the health impacts
from shale gas drilling in any comprehensive and methodical way,
said David Brown, a public health toxicologist in Connecticut and
director of Public Health Toxicology for Environment and Human
Health Inc., which helped design the program.
"We're going into the communities to address the individual health
issues and then research what to do to improve public health," Mr.
Brown said. "No one else is looking carefully and comprehensively
at what's happening to people around these operations, where the
situations and exposures are so variable."
He said the program has begun interviewing local physicians to
determine if they are seeing an increase in certain illnesses that
might be related to shale gas development.
Kathryn Klaber, Marcellus Shale Coalition president, said the
industry supports a thorough, unbiased health assessment in
wellfield areas.
"We live, work and raise our families in these communities, and
are absolutely committed to ensuring that our air, water and
public health are protected," Ms. Klaber said. "There is no higher
priority, and to the extent this initiative can advance objective,
fact-based research, we welcome it."
Helen Podgainy, a pediatrician who has treated children from
Washington County, said the health risks for those living near gas
developments hasn't been studied or quantified in a way to help
local doctors treat their patients.
"It's difficult for those in the medical community to know what we
should be on the lookout for, and how to address problems that we
might see," Dr. Podgainy said. "I do not want my patients to
become 'the canaries in the coal mine.' A proactive approach is to
everyone's benefit."
The office is open Tuesday through Friday, with nurse practitioner
services available by appointment. The office phone number is
724-260-5504. Additional information is available at the project
website is at http://www.environmentalhealthproject.org/.
Don Hopey: dhopey@post-gazette.com or 412-263-1983.