Biological Effects of Inhaled Hydraulic Fracturing Sand Dust. I. Scope of the Investigation

Details

• Personal Author:
  Fedan, Jeffery S.
• Description:
  Hydraulic fracturing ("fracking") is a process in which subterranean natural gas-laden rock is fractured under pressure to enhance retrieval of gas. Sand (a "proppant") is present in the fracking fluid pumped down the well bore to stabilize the fissures and facilitate gas flow. The manipulation of sand at the well site creates respirable dust (fracking sand dust, FSD) to which workers are exposed. Because workplace exposures to FSD have exceeded exposure limits set by OSHA, a physico-chemical characterization of FSD along with comprehensive investigations of the potential early adverse effects of FSDs on organ function and biomarkers has been conducted using a rat model and related in vivo and in vitro experiments involving the respiratory, cardiovascular, immune systems, kidney and brain. An undercurrent theme of the overall hazard identification study was, to what degree do the health effects of inhaled FSD resemble those previously observed after crystalline silica dust inhalation? In short-term studies, FSD was found to be less bioactive than MIN-U-SIL 5 in the lungs. A second theme was, are the biological effects of FSD restricted to the lungs? Bioactivity of FSD was observed in all examined organ systems. Our findings indicate that, in many respects, the physical and chemical properties, and the short-term biological effects, of the FSDs share many similarities as a group but have little in common with crystalline silica dust. [Description provided by NIOSH]
• Subjects:
  Animals Biomarkers Chemistry Dust Environmental Exposure Hazardous Substances Immune System Laboratories Lung Lung Diseases Occupational Exposure Occupational Health Oil And Gas Industry Respiratory System Respiratory Tract Diseases Safety Silicon Dioxide

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• Keywords:
  Analytical Models Animal Studies Author Keywords: Fracking Sand Dust Biological Effects Biological Factors Brain Function Cardiovascular System Characterization Chemical Properties Crystalline Silica Dust Exposure Dusts Employee Exposure Exposure Assessment Exposure Levels Exposure Limits Fracking Gas Industry Health Effects Hydraulic Fracturing Immune System Inhalation Inhalation Exposure System In Vitro Study In Vivo Study Kidney Function Laboratory Animals Laboratory Testing Natural Gas Occupational Exposure Occupational Safety And Health Administration Organs OSHA Physical Properties Pulmonary Effects Pulmonary System Disorders Respirable Dust Respiratory Function Respiratory System Disorders Sand Silica Silica Dusts Toxic Effects Toxicity

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• ISSN:
  0041-008X
• Document Type:
  Text
• Genre:
  Journal Article
• Place as Subject:
  OSHA Region 3 ; West Virginia
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Division:
  HELD - Health Effects Laboratory Division
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America
• Volume:
  409
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:20061546
• Citation:
  Toxicol Appl Pharmacol 2020 Dec; 409:115329
• Contact Point Address:
  Jeffrey S. Fedan, PhD, Pathology and Physiology Research Branch, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, 1000 Frederick Lane, Morgantown, WV 26508, United States of America
• Email:
  jsf2@cdc.gov
• CAS Registry Number:
  Quartz (SiO2) (CAS RN 14808-60-7) ; Silica (CAS RN 7631-86-9)
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  2021
• NORA Priority Area:
  Oil and Gas Extraction
• Peer Reviewed:
  True
• Source Full Name:
  Toxicology and Applied Pharmacology
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:8d291709871a4cb3e97f248096cd197608912afe83ef0e835073f600d7feed3af9381305933789e4971d1f90b7b564b238b72d240b67b1c35f0bdfa935b8659a
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/225052/cdc_225052_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 378.77 KB ]