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Oil and Gas, Air Pollution, Water and Health in Treaty 8
Territory!
Dr. Judi Krzyzanowski BSc, MSc, PhD Treaty 8 Whats the Drill on
Oil and Gas Fort St. John March 25th, 2015
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Extensive Oil and Gas
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Oil and gas wells, annually
New
Cumulative/total
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Contaminants in air and water
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5!
Numerous sources of air pollution
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6!
Emissions are dominated by upstream oil and gas
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7!
Common types of air pollutants Oxides of nitrogen (NOx) = NO
& NO2 from all combustion
Sulphur dioxide (SO2) from combustion of sulphur-containing
fuels
Hydrogen sulphide (H2S) sour gas leaks and venting
Total Reduced Sulphur (TRS) leaks, desulphurization
off-gases
Particulate matter (PM) = fine (PM2.5) and coarse (PM10) from
combustion, dust
Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC) leaks and fugitive
emissions
Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) incomplete combustion,
fugitive
Ozone (O3) secondary pollutant formed from NOx and VOCs
Radiation associated with produced water, equipment scale,
gas
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8!
Oxides of nitrogen (NOx) = NO & NO2 from all combustion
Responsible for ozone (smog) formation Can also form acidic
aerosols (H2NO3) a type of PM
NO2 may cause lung irritation and inflammation, cardiovascular
effects or allergen sensitisation
Contributes to acidification of soil and water
Contributes to eutrophication of soil and water Can lead to
ecosystem changes
Excessive NO3 in drinking water reduces bloods O2 carrying
capacity
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9!
Sulphur dioxide (SO2) from combustion of sulphur-containing
gas
Can form acidic aerosols (H2SO4) a type of PM
Leads to respiratory irritation, aggravates asthma May cause
injury to vegetation Annual SO2 UNECE threshold for lichens may be
exceeded
Main cause of soil or water acidification
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10!
Hydrogen sulphide (H2S) sour gas leaks and venting
Slightly heavier than air Has a rotten egg smell
Odorous at very low concentrations 0.5 ppb for 50% Health damage
begins around 10 ppm (10,000 ppb) 20,000 x that
or ; AAQO = 5 ppb
Causes damage to vegetation Also forms acidic aerosols
(H2SO4)
Is often combusted to form SO2 in disposal Flammable and
explosive
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11!
Total Reduced Sulphur compounds (TRS) includes H2S,
mercaptans
Often measured by the government at monitoring stations in H2S
equivalents
Provincial Ambient Air Quality Objective (AAQO) is for TRS as
H2S All have a rotten egg smell
Methyl mercaptan has health effects at higher concentrations
than H2S (17 ppm or 17,000 ppb) but similar odour thresholds
Dimethyl sulphide [(CH3)2S], dimethyl disulphide (CH3SSCH3),
carbonyl sulphide (CS) and carbon disulphide (CS2) are also
potential air pollutants associated with oil and gas
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12!
Particulate matter (PM) = fine (PM2.5) and coarse (PM10) from
combustion or dust
Associated with haze and visibility problems
A mixture, can include acidic aerosols (H2SO4, H2NO3, metals,
etc.) Difficult to characterise = diverse
Cause lung damage associated with lung cancer and emphysema Can
fall out as soot etc.
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13!
Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC) leaks and fugitive
emissions
Some are odourous Some are carcinogenic or mutanogenic (BTEX
benzene, toluene,
ethyl benzene, xylene)
Methane, propane, butane, etc. are explosive or flammable
Some contribute to ozone formation Some (methane) contribute to
climate change
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14!
Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) incomplete
combustion,
fugitive
Also organic and considered to be semi-volatile
E.g. phenanthrene or No two oil sources have the same PAH
signature Reduce ozone in their breakdown
Like to attach to particles and travel Some are carcinogenic or
mutanogenic
Can contaminate water and soil
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15!
Ozone (O3) secondary pollutant formed from NOx and VOCs
Main component of photochemical smog A strong oxidant
Damages tissues (lungs, vegetation, etc.) Long-lived, travels
across provincial borders, continents, etc. Formation is dependent
on solar radiation and temperature
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16!
Radiation associated with produced water, equipment scale,
gas
Three main types of ionizing radiation: gamma rays, alpha- and
beta-particles
Cause damage at the genetic/intracellular level Absorbed through
inhalation, ingestion, or through skin
Not generally measured or monitored Radium in particular can be
present in gas lines, produced water
and equipment scale
Radiums daughter product radon is a leading cause of lung
cancer
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17!
The air/water/soil interface
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Health Pathways
Water
Air
Soil Food
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19!
Human Health
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
Canada BC Vacouver Northwest BC Northeast BC
Location
Inc
ide
nc
e p
er
10
0,0
00
Lung Cancer MortalityRespiratoy Disease MortalityOther
Respiratory MortalityLung Cancer Incidence Asthma Incidence
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20!
Levels of air pollutants
BC MOE Sites Dec. 2013 Jan. 2014
PESTS Sites Sept. 2014 Apr. 2015
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21!
Levels of air pollutants MOE
Fort Saint John Key Learning Centre
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22!
MOE Readings Doig River Cultural Centre
1-hour AAQO SO2 = 170 ppm 1-hour AAQO TRS = 5 ppm
Road 197 East Tomslake
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23!PESTS Readings 1-hour AAQO NO2 = 213 ppb
1-hour AAQ) O3 = 51 ppb 24-hour AAQO PM10 = 5 g/m3 Taylor
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24!
What affects air quality measurements? Meteorology Topography
Surface roughness Source characteristics Pollutant specifics
(Oke, 1987. Boundary Layer Climates)
a) day
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25!
Acidification
SO2 and NOx lead to soil and water acidification Freshwater
(lake) representative of its basin Depletion of base cations (Ca2+,
Mg+, K+, Na2+) Mobilization of toxic forms of aluminium (Al3+) Can
lead to death of vegetation, fish, etc.
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26!
Eutrophication
NOx and other rN inputs can lead to soil and water
eutrophication
Multiple N inputs not just atmospheric Causes changes to
ecosystems Freshwater (lake) representative of its basin Cause
algal blooms, oxygen deficiency, water death
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27!
Modelling deposition
2156 km2 3 First Nations
communities (Blueberry, Beatton, Doig)
266 point, flare and area sources
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28!
Predicted deposition
Sulphur - acidification
Nitrogen eutrophication and acidification
High
Low
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29!
Acidification Risk/Sensitivity
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30!
Other impacts.
Radiation and salinity
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Explosion or fire risk
31!
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32!
Discussion/Context
There are tools to monitor or measure ecosystem change lichens,
conductivity, visible injury
Community-based indicators can also be developed/used
Monitors becoming more affordable, easy to
use, and accessible to communities
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33!
Thank-you
Any Questions
