Compressor stations and Compressor stations and health risks - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Compressor stations and Compressor stations and health risks health risks Curtis Nordgaard, MD MSc Pediatrician Dorchester MA

There are known knowns... There are known unknowns... There are unknown unknowns... - Donald Rumsfeld

For today: Basics of how a compressor station works What pollution comes out of a compressor station? What are the health risks?

Access Northeast: Expanding the Algonquin Pipeline

Proposed Rehoboth compressor station site Spectra Energy Partners (Dec 2015). Access Northeast Project, Resource Report 10. Fig 10.9-1, Rehoboth Compressor Station Site (PDF pg 311).

A Solar Taurus compressor

Compressor stations

Compressor stations

Typical compressor station equipment Compressor engine & turbine Dehydrator, separator Condensate storage tank Gas heater & cooler Backup generator Pipeyard

How does a compressor station generate pollution? Burn gas in compressor Vent gas (blowdown, shut down, emergency venting) Leak gas under high pressure system Vent condensate from tanks Noise

For today: Basics of how a compressor station works What pollution comes out of a compressor station? What are the health risks?

What comes out of compressor stations? Definitely Noise Nitrogen oxides, particulate matter, carbon monoxide, volatile organic compounds (formaldehyde, benzene, etc) Radon Likely or possible Mercury, radioactive lead, chromium, PCBs Secondary formation Ozone, particulate matter

Noise Air pollution Pollution Released Non- Pollutants pollutants combustible from burning Nitrogen oxides Radon Particulate matter Methane Lead Carbon monoxide VOCs Mercury Volatile organic compounds HAPs Chromium Hazardous air pollutants Toxic Toxic Toxic Cancer causing Cancer causing Cancer causing

Compressor station noise: Neighbors' anecdotes It tends to vent at night It rattled the dishes in the cupboards It sounds like a jet engine One venting event lasted several hours and sounded like a loud jet engine several miles away

Compressor station noise Rhode Island Department of Health, Energy Facility Siting Board Advisory Opinion, Clear River Energy Center. Sept 12, 2016. P 14.

Compressor station noise Noise analyses will be in Resource Report 9 of the Access Northeast FERC docket The background data are prepared by Spectra's consultants* There are state noise regulations State noise regulations apply before & after construction * See Itai Vardi, Twitter & DeSmog Blog

What are VOCs? Volatile: Airborn Organic: Carbon based Compounds: Molecules Examples: Methane , ethane, methanol, ethanol, naphthalene, benzene , formaldehyde Trans-4-methyl-2-pentene

Nitrogen dioxide Toxic NO 2 + VOC = Ozone, smog

Particulate matter Organic compounds, metals, ions Delivery system to the lungs Toxic

Estimating Rehoboth station air pollution Weymouth Rehoboth Compressor Taurus 60 Taurus 70 Horsepower 7,700 10,915 Pollution analyses Complete Pending Air pollution from the Rehoboth compressor station will likely be equal to or greater than pollution from the Weymouth compressor station

Burning gas: Toxic air emissions Spectra Energy Partners (Oct 2015). Atlantic Bridge Project, Resource Report 9. Algonquin Gas Transmission LLC Weymouth Compressor Station Permit Application pg 3-13 (PDF pg 602).

Burning gas: Toxic air emissions Spectra Energy Partners (Oct 2015). Atlantic Bridge Project, Resource Report 9. Algonquin Gas Transmission LLC Weymouth Compressor Station Permit Application pg 3-13 (PDF pg 602).

Health outcomes associated with pollutants Nitrogen dioxide: Increased respiratory hospitalizations (2%) 1 , heart failure (1.7%) 2 Carbon monoxide: Increased premature birth rates (4%) 3 , low birth weight (7%) 3 Particulate matter: Increased fatality from heart and lung disease (5.3%) 4 , new childhood asthma diagnoses (10-12%) 5 1. Huang G, et al. (2015). Spat Spatiotemporal Epidemiol, v14-15, 63-74. 2. Shah AS, et al. (2013). Lancet, v382,1039-48. 3. Stieb DM, et al. (2012). Environ Res, v117, 100-11. 4. Samoli E, et al. (2014). Environ Int , v67, 54-61. 5. Wendt JK, et al. (2014). Environ Res , v131, 50-8.

Compressor station: tank emissions Spectra Energy Partners, ibid. (PDF pg 744).

What's in vented gas? Clues from New Bedford http://www.rtknet.org/db/brs/brs.php? reptype=f&epa_id=MAR000009993&reporting_year=2007&database=brs&detail=3&datype=T

Heavy metals and health Lead “Behavior and learning problems, lower IQ and hyperactivity, slowed growth, hearing problems, anemia” Mercury ”Tremors, emotional changes, insomnia, neuromuscular changes (such as weakness, muscle atrophy, twitching), headaches, disturbances in sensations, changes in nerve responses” Chromium “Shortness of breath, coughing, and wheezing” “Abdominal pain, vomiting, and hemorrhage” “May result in complications during pregnancy and childbirth” “Inhaled chromium is a human carcinogen, resulting in an increased risk of lung cancer” Source: www.epa.gov

Heavy metals in gas - Gas flowing through Rehoboth reaches New Bedford - The gas was processed in New Bedford and produced hazardous waste that included lead, mercury, and chromium - Despite their importance for human health, these pollutants were not reported in or analyzed for the two most recent Algonquin expansions

Hazardous air pollutants from burning gas 1578 lbs formaldehyde /year X 50% catalytic efficiency = 789 lbs/year Spectra Energy Partners, ibid. Table B1Ai. (PDF pg 736).

Formaldehyde: Compressor station vs fracked gas power plant Weymouth compressor station: 789 lb/yr, at 60 ft stack height 1000MW Fracked gas power plant: 1450 lb/yr, at 200 ft stack height Invenergy Thermal Development Co. (Oct 2015). Clear River Energy Center, Rhode Island Facility Siting Board Application, pg 33, Table 6.1-2.

For today: Basics of how a compressor station works What pollution comes out of a compressor station? What are the health risks?

Assessing health risks: Types of data Public health/epidemiology <<Not available>> Surveys Symptoms Pollution Change in pollutant concentration

Self-reported symptoms near compressor station Health surveys of 35 residents within ~1 mile of new compressor station (12,000 hp) Symptoms: Respiratory & nosebleeds: 22 of 35 Headaches: 12 of 35 Rash: 10 of 35 Southwest Pennsylvania Environmental Health Project (2015). Summary of Minisink monitoring results. http://www.environmentalhealthproject.org/resources/presentations/

How air pollution disperses

How air pollution disperses

Compressor station formaldehyde: Toxic & Cancer causing Carcinogen: 0.08 mcg/m 3 Toxicity: 10-49 mcg/m 3 Toxicity symptoms: Nasal & eye irritation; neurologic effects; Increased asthma, allergies, & eczema; decreased lung function -US Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry http://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/ -EPA IRIS database

Formaldehyde concentration near compressor stations PA-4259: 6200 hp Teel Compressor station Macey et al. (2014) Environmental Health, v13, 82

~790m radius from proposed site Measured Formaldehyde: at 790m - 61 mcg/m 3 Carcinogen: 0.08 mcg/m 3 Toxicity: 10-49 mcg/m 3 762X Carcinogen threshold 1.25-6X Toxicity threshold

Particulate matter near a compressor station http://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/HAC/pha/BrooklynTownship/BrooklynTwnsp_pm2-5 _HC_Final_04-22-2016_508.pdf

24-hour particulate matter near station Regional PM2.5 monitor: 12.3 µg/m 3 Local PM2.5 testing: 19 µg/m 3 Difference in 24-hr peaks: 6.7 µg/m 3 Health outcomes: ~11% Increased risk of stroke 1 ~7% Increased likelihood of asthma diagnosis 2 1. Wellenius, GA, et al. (2012). Arch Intern Med, v172(3): 229-234. 2. Wendt JK, et al. (2014). Environ Res , v131, 50-58.

Annual particulate matter near a compressor station Regional PM2.5 monitor: 10.8 µg/m 3 Estimated local annual average: 15-16 µg/m 3 EPA and World Health Organization standards: 12 & 10 µg/m 3 , resp Health outcomes: Mortality: Lung cancer (3.8%), diabetes (6%), heart attack (2.7%), all non-accidental causes (1.1%) Crouse, DL et al (2015). Env Health Persp, v123(11): 1180-1186.

For today: Basics of how a compressor station works What pollution comes out of a compressor station? What are the health risks?

Safety? TransCanada St Vincent Nat gas compressor station Minnesota, Sept 5 2015

“Clean” fracked gas power plants? Invenergy Thermal Development Co. (Oct 2015). Clear River Energy Center, Rhode Island Facility Siting Board Application.

Fracked gas: A “bridge”...to nowhere Methane greenhouse effect CO 2 greenhouse effect Howarth RW (2014). Energy Sci Engineering , v2, 47-60.

A few conclusions Compressor stations - A health risk Pollutants - hazardous air pollutants, formaldehyde, nitrogen dioxide, particulate matter Associated illnesses - Cancer; respiratory, cardiac, & neurologic disease, birth outcomes

A few conclusions Presence of risk is clear Degree of risk is unclear We can define what constitutes acceptable degree of risk