![]() Research results from the NIOSH Field Effort to date include exposure assessments that quantified risks for respirable crystalline silica during hydraulic fracturing, benzene exposures during flowback and tank gauging operations, and evaluations of an engineering control invented by NIOSH (mini baghouse retrofit assembly) to control respirable crystalline silica emissions from sand moving machinery. NIOSH initiated the Field Effort to Assess Chemical Exposures in Oil and Gas Extraction Workers 4 in 2010 but preliminary hazard assessments began in 2008 with worksite observations, reviews of safety data sheets, area and limited personal breathing zone (PBZ) air sampling, and discussions with work crews, supervisors, and health and safety personnel at upstream work sites. Risks for fatalities in E&P work are well described by NIOSH ( 1, 2, 3) but there is a paucity of peer-reviewed studies describing chemical exposure risks during drilling, completions and well servicing work. Work in contemporary oil and gas extraction involves a wide range of tasks and operations including: site preparation, well drilling, well completions (which includes hydraulic fracturing) and servicing work. Recommendations to minimize DPM exposures include elimination (locating diesel-driven pumps away from well sites), substitution, (use of alternative fuels), engineering controls using advanced emissions controls technologies, administrative controls (configuration of well sites), hazard communication and worker training. ![]() These measurements were collected on Sandmover and Transfer Belt (T-belt) Operators, Blender and Chemical Truck Operators, and Water Transfer Operators during hydraulic fracturing operations. Five of 49 (10.2%) PBZ TWA measurements exceeded the 20 μg/m 3 EC criterion. However, the State of California, Department of Health Services lists a time-weighted average (TWA) OEL for DPM as elemental carbon (EC) exposure of 20 μg/m 3. Neither the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), NIOSH, nor the American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH) have established occupational exposure limits (OEL) for DPM. Differences between the GMs of the PBZ samples and area samples were not statistically different (P>0.05). The GM for the area measurements was 9.5 μg/m 3. The AM of the TWA area measurements was 17 μg/m 3 and ranged from 0.1 to 68 μg/m 3. The geometric mean (GM) for the PBZ samples was 7 μg/m 3. Researchers at the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) collected 104 full-shift air samples (49 PBZ and 55 area) in Colorado, North Dakota, Texas, and New Mexico during a four year period from 2008-2012 The arithmetic mean (AM) of the full shift TWA PBZ samples was 10 μg/m 3 measurements ranged from 0.1 to 52 μg/m 3. This study reports on personal breathing zone (PBZ) and area measurements for DPM (expressed as elemental carbon) during oil and gas extraction operations including drilling, completions (which includes hydraulic fracturing) and servicing work. Diesel particulate matter (DPM) emitted from diesel engines is a complex aerosol that may cause adverse health effects depending on exposure dose and duration. Diesel engines serve many purposes in modern oil and gas extraction activities.
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