GDACC

In the gas fields of northern Germany, formation fluid is carried via a network of underground pipes to a disposal reservoir. It’s a closed loop system. In spite of that, an alleged cancer cluster in the rural communities located above these pipelines prompted soil testing which found impressively high levels of benzene.

The pipes are made of heavy duty plastic and do not appear to be corroding or leaking. The tentative explanation is that benzene and other hydrocarbons are actually diffusing through the plastic pipe itself.

It’s possible that industry had prior knowledge that these plastic materials allow for the diffusion of lightweight hydrocarbons, and that revelation is now part of the scandal.

Here below is an English-subtitled report about that story. A contact from Germany tells me that the company (RWE DEA) is now no longer allowed to use this disposal well.

A footnote from me: Not only is benzene one of a small handful of chemicals classified by government and international agencies around the world as PROVEN human carcinogen, it is an escape artist. Benzene is the Houdini of hydrocarbons.

Questions for New York:

How could we transport millions of gallons of benzene-contaminated fracking wastewater, or treat it on site, and entirely isolate and contain every single benzene molecule in perpetuity?

If German engineering cannot create a closed loop system for fracking waste that prevents the release of known carcinogens into human communities, who can?

Are outbreaks of cancer in people the way that NYS plans to identify unanticipated materials and engineering problems?

Kind regards, Sandra

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bGtqn1eUDRI

Filed under Air Pollution, Health, Pipelines Tagged with benzene, cancer, Germany, health impacts, hydrofracking, waste

Air sampling reveals high emissions from gas field : Nature News & Comment

February 8, 2012

Air sampling reveals high emissions from gas field : Nature News & Comment.

This is an extremely important finding/publication as it confirms the Howarth et al reports that methane leakage is an EXTREMELY important component of environmental forcing of global warming; the industry (and global warming deniers) have been fighting back mightily but they seem to be quite wrong.

Thus, the purported “cleanness” of natural gas is no longer credible.

Filed under Air Pollution, Health, Industry claims, Save the Planet Tagged with air pollution, Climate Change, Greenhouse Gases, methane leaks