What's in the Air?

By Tina Lieberman, Education Chair, Hudson Mohawk Group

On October 12, 2017, the not-for-profit Environmental Health Project released its groundbreaking report on the chemical and particulate emissions of the 18 largest compressor stations in New York State (NYS). The report contains detailed information about routine compressor station emissions and their associated health effects that has not been reported by either the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC), the NYS Department of Health (DOH), the Federal Energy Regulatory Committee (FERC) or the industry. This is the first time emissions data and their health effects have been compiled side-by-side raising real concerns about how residents’ health is impacted, especially in communities close to fracked gas facilities. 

The report is entitled “Health Effects Associated with Stack Chemical Emissions from NYS Natural Gas Compressor Stations: 2008–2014” and was published by Pat Russo and Dr. David Carpenter of the Institute for Health and the Environment at SUNY Albany. The public was invited to a PowerPoint presentation in Albany on the day of the study’s release. There, for the first time, we saw the data confirming what we had suspected: that there are significant health risks associated with the 70 chemicals and particulate emissions released by fracked gas compressor stations in the state, particularly in the communities in which they’re sited. 

The study identifies the five largest chemical emissions from these gas compressor stations by volume: (1) nitrous oxides (NO2), (2) carbon monoxide (CO), (3) volatile organic compounds (VOCs), (4) formaldehyde and (5) particulate matter (PM) — especially the smaller PM that goes deep into the alveoli of the lungs. This report shows that the 18 compressor stations routinely release large volumes of these chemicals — an estimated 40.2 million pounds over 7 years. It is worth noting that these emissions occurred while the compressor stations were operating under Title V of the Clean Air Act.

Extensive peer-reviewed research demonstrates that these emissions are associated with a variety of diseases and disorders. Exposure to these chemicals can cause respiratory, cardiovascular, neurological and developmental diseases as well as cancer. Across the country, symptoms associated with exposure to fracked-gas infrastructure emissions reported by residents include respiratory, cardiovascular and neurological health effects. Thus, exposure to emissions from these compressor stations may contribute to the prevalence and increase of these diseases in New York State.

Taken together, the 18 compressor stations in the study are the seventh largest “point source” of air pollution in New York State — which is particularly concerning when you consider there are 56 operational gas compressor stations in New York. This report should open the eyes of state and local government officials to the size and scope of the air emissions generated by unconventional natural gas compressor stations. It should arm citizens with the knowledge they need to fight against the build-up of fracked gas infrastructure. And this study should help healthcare professionals better serve their communities by identifying the specific health impacts produced by exposure to the reported chemicals.