5.1.1 Investigate the impact of mixed exposures in the hydraulic fracturing and petroleum industries to benzene, toluene, ethyl benzene, and xylene (BTEX), polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), respirable crystalline silica, and other agents on the respiratory health of workers, in particular airways disease and cancer The natural gas obtained by hydraulic fracturing (also called hydrofracturing or fracking) burns much cleaner than coal, which means fewer air emissions. However, a recent review of emerging occupational and environmental respiratory diseases highlighted concerns about the airborne exposures from hydraulic fracturing (Moitra, Puri, Paul, & Huang, 2015). Investigations of exposures at fracking sites have identified a variety of potential threats to the respiratory tracts of both workers and the general population, including benzene, toluene, ethyl benzene, and xylene (BTEX), polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), respirable crystalline silica, hydrogen sulfide, diesel exhaust, and other airborne agents (Carpenter, 2016; McCawley, 2015; McKenzie, Witter, Newman, & Adgate, 2012). These exposures could pose a risk to the respiratory health of workers and others living close enough to the fracking sites, and of particular concern is their contribution to airways disease and respiratory cancers. Studies of human health effects have focused on community environmental exposures. For example, a recent study reported that the exacerbation of asthma among people living near fracking well sites was associated with phases of well development such as pad preparation, well drilling, actual hydraulic fracturing, and production (Rasmussen et al., 2016). Additional studies are needed to investigate the impact of these exposures on the respiratory health of workers at well sites.
...
Objective 6: Advance the understanding of the impact of occupational chronic low-level toxicant exposure on respiratory health, notably chronic low-level irritant exposure Chronic exposure to inhaled irritants such as vapors, gases, dusts (organic and inorganic), and fumes (VGDF) has been associated with development of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). COPD affects >5% of the population and is associated with high morbidity and mortality (NHLBI, 2012). An official statement of the American Thoracic Society estimated that 15% of the population burden of COPD is attributable to occupational exposures (Balmes et al., 2003). The population attributable fraction for occupational exposure is higher among never smokers, with a recent estimate of 48% (Würtz et al., 2015). Chronic exposures to inhaled respiratory irritants at work have also been associated with worsening of asthma, termed work-exacerbated asthma. The prevalence of work-exacerbated asthma has been estimated at 21.5% for adults with asthma (Henneberger et al., 2011). Chronic moderate to low inhaled irritant exposures have also been suggested, from epidemiologic studies, to increase new-onset irritantinduced asthma (Vandenplas et al., 2014). The prevalence of asthma is increased in occupations with moderate to low irritant exposures, such as for cleaners, farmers, wood workers, aluminum smelter workers, and previously radiology technicians exposed to “dark room” chemicals. However, for many of these occupations there may be other mechanisms of new-onset asthma such as intermittent high level irritant exposures and sensitizer exposures, so this has been classified in a diagnostic algorithm as “possible irritant-induced asthma” (Vandenplas et al., 2014). In a previous evidence-based report, Baur et al. found the best evidence for causation of asthma or COPD related to irritants from 17 types of agents: benzene-1,2,4-tricarboxylicacid-1,2-anhydride, chlorine, platinum salt, isocyanates, cement dust, grain dust, animal farming, secondhand tobacco smoke, welding fumes or construction work, phthalic anhydride, glutaraldehyde, sulfur dioxide, cotton dust, cleaning agents, aluminum potrooms, various other farming environments, and foundries (Baur, Bakehe, & Vellguth, 2012)
AI
Market Data 
Markets 
