Gasland – Documentary Review

Why is there a disconnect between what science is telling us and what the corporations and politicians are doing about gas drilling?

According to the Gasland documentary, natural gas drilling corporations use more than 596 chemicals in hydraulic fracturing (Lifegate, 2016). The process also requires one up to seven million gallons of water to frack one well. Evidently, the chemicals are dangerous, but the officials have constantly claimed that the water is safe and the hydraulic fracking is safe and not a threat to the environment. It is also important to note that the corporations’ officials declined consuming samples of water from the affected wells. Alongside the corporations, politicians are also painting the same picture that the operations are not dangerous to the environment and the public despite the evidence pointing otherwise. Definitely, there is a disconnect between what science is telling and what the politicians and corporations are doing; however, the ultimate question remains, why? Science is conclusive in matters concerning climate change. Within the scientific community, there is a widespread agreement on what climate change is, the effects it has on the environment, and what it means for the future. Unfortunately, some politicians are not willing to admit the truth because they are afraid of offending the big corporations financing their campaigns. Similarly, as compared to fossil fuels, fracking is relatively cheaper and more profitable for the politicians. It is also easy to convince people to ignore the protection of the environment where money is available. 

The gas energy industry is very central to many aspects of America. Discuss the positive and negative economic and environmental features regarding the harnessing of gas power.

Natural gas has several qualities that make it an efficient, economical, and clean source of energy. The new technology used in drilling and gas recovery significantly reduces land wastage. According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration (2017), the use of the horizontal and directional technique makes it possible to drill more gas from a single well as compared to the past. Previously, the extraction of natural gases used hydraulic fracturing, which was expensive to develop. However, today gas drilling uses fracking, which requires pumping of liquids under high pressure to fracture rock and extract gas. Unfortunately, the production of natural gas also has various environmental and safety issues. For instance, the production of natural gas using fracturing allows it to escape from the rock to the environment. The fracturing requires huge volumes of water, which may affect aquatic life and cause some water shortage. When not managed properly, the fracking could cause spillage of hazardous chemicals, which could contaminate the environment and clean water sources. 

How was the Environmental Protection Agency exposed in this film? Did it change how you felt about environmental organizations? Why or why not?

The Environmental Protection Agency is an agency of the Federal government and was created to protect human and environmental health. Unfortunately, the EPA is not doing what it was mandated to do on several issues. The agency has not made any significant progress in protecting human and environmental health since its formation in the 1970s. Although it was a bit disappointing, it was not surprising at all. In the face of climate change, the government starting with the Bush administration has blatantly tampered with the integrity of scientific agencies (Union of Concerned Scientists, n.d). For instance, in June 2003, the White House tried to change the EPA’s draft report on climate change. The election of President Obama did not change much, and as Sampathkumar and Cockburn (2017) note, the Trump administration seems to be escalating the issue with his recent refusal to sign the Paris Agreement on climate change. EPA is also immersed in a cumbersome bureaucracy alongside an understaffed workforce, which has undermined their efforts to protect the environment. 

The Bureau of Land Management’s (BLM) goal is “to sustain the health, diversity, and productivity of the public lands for the use and enjoyment of present and future generations.” Is the practice of gas drilling on their lands fulfilling their mandate? Does it put sustainability into practice?

Much of the drilling process occurs on public land. The Bureau of Land Management’s (BLM) is responsible for sustaining the health, diversity, and productivity of public land for the present and future generation. Gas drilling does not align with the mandate of the BLM or protect the sustainability of the lands. However, the agency is not solely responsible for not protecting public land. As Fears (2018) notes, the Trump administration is aggressively doing away with regulations protecting public land.

Knowing the interconnectedness of the source of our drinking water, do you feel that our drinking source is safe here in Illinois? Explain. Please note that fracking is now allowed in Illinois.

According to Bagley (2013) Illinois lies on a large portion of natural gas, estimated to be around 86 to 160 trillion cubic feet. The executive director of Illinois Environmental Council also noted that fracking is not only inevitable but also imminent. Despite the regulations put in place that demands drillers to disclose the chemicals publicly and test the water, before, during, and after fracking, Illinois drinking source is not safe. The corporations with the support of the politicians are ignoring the Environmental Protection Act and hiding the fact that the hydraulic fracking is dangerous. The same could happen in Illinois, which means even with the regulations in place, the State’s drinking water is not safe. 

Describe the chemical from the documentary.

Ethylbenzene is a colorless liquid that belongs to the family of substituted benzenes – BTEX alongside other organic compounds. According to the EPA interim report (2009), the chemical formula for the organic compound is C8H10 and has a molecular weight of 106.16g/mol. Ethylbenzene is highly flammable with a strong odor similar to gasoline. The chemical is categorized under monocyclic aromatic hydrocarbon with a vapor pressure of 9.53mm Hg at 25°C. 

Describe the intentional beneficial use of the chemical

In the industrial process, Ethylbenzene is used in the production of styrene. In hydraulic fracking, the extraction of natural gas in tight geological formations requires unconventional formation of shale gas. Large quantities of water alongside some proppants and chemical additives are necessary to make the process a success. According to EPA (2009), well stimulation is a process required to increase the production of gas in wells, which is accomplished by increasing the flow of hydrocarbons into the wells. BTEX are used as additives added to fracturing fluids to thicken the fluid and improve the efficiency of the process. 

Describe the potential toxic exposures.

The use of ethylbenzene in hydraulic fracturing can have devastating effects in humans as well as the environment. Acute exposure to ethylbenzene is likely to lead to respiratory health issues such as chest constriction, throat, and eye irritation, and some neurological effects such as dizziness (EPA, 2009). In animals, studies indicate that the chemical has some effects on the central nervous system, pulmonary impact, as well as liver, eyes, and kidney. On the other hand, the chronic exposure to the organic compound is likely to cause some devastating effects on the blood. However, it is important to note, inhalation of ethylbenzene by humans has conflicting impacts as some studies found effects on the blood in one study of workers while none in others. In animals, has been found to have an effect on the liver, kidneys, and blood due to chronic exposure. Consequently, according to the report by EPA the chemical has been found to have reproductive and developmental effects in animals. Such include effects such as retarded skeletal muscles, the incidence of extra ribs, and fetal resorptions. Although ethylbenzene has been associated with cancer risk, there are no firm conclusions and the period of study has been insufficient to detect latency tumors. 

Recommended Exposure Levels of the Ethylbenzene Chemical

The Occupational Safety and Health Information (n.d), recommended exposure limit for ethylbenzene was 100ppm (435 mg/m3) TWA. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (n.d), due to the skin and mucous membrane irritant properties, OSHA proposed exposure limits of 100ppm for 8-hour TWA and 125 ppm for 15 minutes. The limits are consistent with the ACGIH recommendation for ethylbenzene. Virtually, the levels set by OSHA are not high, but continued exposure to this chemical might have some toxic effects on the individual. 

Should there be more concern from the public on the number of chemicals used in Fracking

As oil and gas corporations access natural gas in the United States, confidentiality claims and legal provisions are preventing the public and scientists from knowing all the chemicals used in the process. Evidence also indicates that the hydraulic fracturing has been associated with several health risks. The chemicals injected into the wells to make the process easier and cheaper have been spilling into the environment and posing a risk to humans, animals, and aquatic life as well. Definitely, due to the health problems associated with fracking, there is a concern for the public. More specifically because the risks have constantly been underestimated. The Environmental Protection Agencies are also downplaying the risks as the government and politicians seem more focused on the economic benefits hydraulic fracturing has to the country. The agencies tasked with the responsibility of protecting the public have had their integrity tampered with as the federal government blatantly keeps on changing the rules to fit their current focus on natural gas extraction. The misconduct and the negligence of the Environmental protection and the Bureau of Land Management’s have not only ignored the complaints by the public but are also tied and restricted by the bureaucratic process in carrying out scientific tests on the safety of the chemicals used by these corporations.

References

Bagley, K. (2013). Fracking Bill triggers rift among Illinois green groups. Inside Climate News. Retrieved from: https://insideclimatenews.org/news/20130617/fracking-bill-triggers-rift-among-illinois-green-groups

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (n.d). Ethybenzene. Retrieved from: https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/pel88/100-41.html

Environmental protection Agency. (2009). Acute exposure guideline levels (AEGLS) for ethylbenzene. Retrieved from: https://www.epa.gov/sites/production/files/2014-08/documents/ethylbenzene_interim_sep_09.v1.pdf

Fears, D. (2018). Trump administration tears down regulations to speed drilling on public land. The Washington Post. Retrieved from: https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/energy-environment/wp/2018/02/01/trump-administration-tears-down-regulations-to-speed-drilling-on-public-land/?utm_term=.406594cd1e3b

LifeGate. (2016). Gasland. [YouTube]. Retrieved from: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MqVPLbL_Y-E

Occupational Safety and Health Information. (n.d). Trimethylbenzene (mixed isomers). Retrieved from: https://www.osha.gov/dts/chemicalsampling/data/CH_273880.html

Sampathkumar, M., & Cockburn, H. (2017). Syria signs Paris Agreement – leaving U.S. only country in the world to refuse climate change deal. Independent.  Retrieved from: http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/middle-east/syria-paris-agreement-us-climate-change-donald-trump-world-country-accord-a8041996.html

U.S. Energy Information Administration. (2017). Natural gas explained: natural gas and the environment. Retrieved from: https://www.eia.gov/energyexplained/index.cfm?page=natural_gas_environment

Union of Concerned Scientists. (n.d). Climate change research distorted and suppressed. Retrieved from: https://www.ucsusa.org/our-work/center-science-and-democracy/promoting-scientific-integrity/climate-change.html#.Wppa1zVQ8dU