Universities target Carroll County for new air quality study

CARROLLTON, OHIO — The University of Cincinnati (UC) and Oregon State University’s (OSU) College of Medicine are teaming up on a new air quality study to understand air quality impacts from shale gas operations.

Funding

The National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, a part of the Federal Government’s National Institutes of Health, has funded the study that will place passive air sampling devices near shale gas pads. These devices capture chemical readings for many of the air pollutants often associated with drilling, hydraulic fracturing, completion and ongoing production of shale gas wells.

According to Erin N. Haynes, DrPH and Assistant Professor at UC’s Department of Environmental Health, “As Ohio’s shale gas boom continues, thousands of new pads will be installed many of which will be in close proximity to homes and businesses. Understanding if significant air quality changes occur during the various shale gas operations is important to understanding health risks for humans and livestock.”

Researchers are currently seeking a limited number of landowners in Carroll or surrounding counties willing to host the small passive sampling devices on their property. Targeted sites should either have a shale gas well currently being developed or be immediately adjacent to a new pad.

Seeking landowners

Landowners interested in learning more or who would like to be considered for participation in the unbiased study should contact DrPH. Haynes by phone at 513-558-5427 or via email at Erin.Haynes@uc.edu

Carroll Concerned Citizens is acting as one of the local non-profit partners to assisting in the study. Paul Feezel, the group’s chair added, “It made sense for UC and OSU to target Carroll County because of the volume of drilling activity in a small geographic area. The researchers can get the different sampling situations they are looking for without the logistical challenges and travel.”

Details

Haynes will provide more details about the academic study and specific criteria for landowners interested in participating at Carroll Concerned Citizens’ upcoming meeting. It will be held beginning at 7 p.m. Jan. 9 at the Church of Christ 353 Moody Ave. in Carrollton. The meeting is free and open to the public.