Book contents
- Environmental Impacts from the Development of Unconventional Oil and Gas Reserves
- Environmental Impacts from the Development of Unconventional Oil and Gas Reserves
- Copyright page
- Contents
- Figures
- Tables
- Contributors
- Preface
- Part I Overview
- Part II Environmental Analysis
- 5 Air Quality
- 6 Methane and Climate Change
- 7 Water Usage and Management
- 8 Seismicity Induced by the Development of Unconventional Oil and Gas Resources
- 9 Naturally Occurring Radioactive Material (NORM)
- 10 Metal Isotope Signatures as Tracers for Unconventional Oil and Gas Fluids
- 11 Isotopes as Tracers of Atmospheric and Groundwater Methane Sources
- 12 The Microbiology of Shale Gas Extraction
- Part III Case Studies
- Index
- References
5 - Air Quality
from Part II - Environmental Analysis
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 28 July 2022
- Environmental Impacts from the Development of Unconventional Oil and Gas Reserves
- Environmental Impacts from the Development of Unconventional Oil and Gas Reserves
- Copyright page
- Contents
- Figures
- Tables
- Contributors
- Preface
- Part I Overview
- Part II Environmental Analysis
- 5 Air Quality
- 6 Methane and Climate Change
- 7 Water Usage and Management
- 8 Seismicity Induced by the Development of Unconventional Oil and Gas Resources
- 9 Naturally Occurring Radioactive Material (NORM)
- 10 Metal Isotope Signatures as Tracers for Unconventional Oil and Gas Fluids
- 11 Isotopes as Tracers of Atmospheric and Groundwater Methane Sources
- 12 The Microbiology of Shale Gas Extraction
- Part III Case Studies
- Index
- References
Summary
Emissions from unconventional oil and gas development can impact ground-level air quality. The largest impacts are on ozone (O3) and are driven by emissions of volatile organic compounds (VOCs). In the western U.S., ozone events in excess of EPA standards have been linked to VOC emissions from oil and gas operations. In Texas and the eastern U.S., ozone impacts are more modest, but may contribute to exceedances of EPA standards in some downwind cities. Some of the emitted VOCs are hazardous air pollutants that may cause cancer or other health effects. Thus, these emissions may also generate environmental injustice for communities living near oil and gas sources. Unconventional oil and gas sources also contribute to fine particulate matter (PM2.5) and nitrogen oxides (NOx). However, they are minor sources of these pollutants. Similarly, combustion associated with the oil and gas industry emits NOx, but the industry is a small contributor to overall emissions. In rural areas of the western U.S., these NOx emissions contribute to the high ozone events.
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- Publisher: Cambridge University PressPrint publication year: 2022