Unconventional oil and gas development and risk of childhood leukemia: Assessing the evidence

• Published in: The Science of the total environment 2017-01, Vol.576, p.138-147
• Main Authors: Elliott, Elise G., Trinh, Pauline, Ma, Xiaomei, Leaderer, Brian P., Ward, Mary H., Deziel, Nicole C.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Air Pollutants - analysis; Air pollution; Carcinogens; Child; Environmental Monitoring; Humans; Hydraulic fracturing; Leukemia - chemically induced; Leukemia - epidemiology; Oil and Gas Fields; Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons; Shale; United States - epidemiology; Wastewater; Water contamination
• ISSN: 0048-9697; 1879-1026; 1879-1026
• DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2016.10.072

The widespread distribution of unconventional oil and gas (UO&G) wells and other facilities in the United States potentially exposes millions of people to air and water pollutants, including known or suspected carcinogens. Childhood leukemia is a particular concern because of the disease severity, vulnerable population, and short disease latency. A comprehensive review of carcinogens and leukemogens associated with UO&G development is not available and could inform future exposure monitoring studies and human health assessments. The objective of this analysis was to assess the evidence of carcinogenicity of water contaminants and air pollutants related to UO&G development. We obtained a list of 1177 chemicals in hydraulic fracturing fluids and wastewater from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and constructed a list of 143 UO&G-related air pollutants through a review of scientific papers published through 2015 using PubMed and ProQuest databases. We assessed carcinogenicity and evidence of increased risk for leukemia/lymphoma of these chemicals using International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) monographs. The majority of compounds (>80%) were not evaluated by IARC and therefore could not be reviewed. Of the 111 potential water contaminants and 29 potential air pollutants evaluated by IARC (119 unique compounds), 49 water and 20 air pollutants were known, probable, or possible human carcinogens (55 unique compounds). A total of 17 water and 11 air pollutants (20 unique compounds) had evidence of increased risk for leukemia/lymphoma, including benzene, 1,3-butadiene, cadmium, diesel exhaust, and several polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. Though information on the carcinogenicity of compounds associated with UO&G development was limited, our assessment identified 20 known or suspected carcinogens that could be measured in future studies to advance exposure and risk assessments of cancer-causing agents. Our findings support the need for investigation into the relationship between UO&G development and risk of cancer in general and childhood leukemia in particular. [Display omitted] •Concerns exist about carcinogenic effects of unconventional oil & gas development.•We evaluated the carcinogenicity of 1177 water pollutants and 143 air pollutants.•These chemicals included 55 known, probable, or possible human carcinogens.•Specifically, 20 compounds had evidence of leukemia/lymphoma risk.•Research on exposures to unconventional oil & gas development and