Article
Microbiology
Maria Fernanda Campa, Jeremy R. Chen See, Lavinia Unverdorben, Olivia G. Wright, Kimberly A. Roth, Jonathan M. Niles, Daniel Ressler, Ella M. S. Macatugal, Andrew D. Putt, Stephen M. Techtmann, Timothy L. Righetti, Terry C. Hazen, Regina Lamendella
Summary: The environmental implications of unconventional oil and gas extraction are only recently starting to be systematically recorded. Our research shows the utility of microbial communities paired with geochemical markers to build strong predictive random forest models of unconventional oil and gas activity and the identification of key biomarkers.
MICROBIOLOGY SPECTRUM
(2022)
Article
Energy & Fuels
Eleanor Spielman-Sun, Adam D. Jew, John R. Bargar
Summary: This study evaluates secondary mineral precipitation and permeability attenuation in carbonate-rich shale samples from the Delaware Basin using laboratory and synchrotron-based techniques. The results demonstrate that carbonate-rich shales have strong neutralization abilities towards acidic fracturing fluid and that the contribution of the acid spearhead to rock permeability enhancement is limited. This has important implications for acidizing carbonate-rich shale formations and iron transformations within these shales.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Andie Graham, Douglas A. Wilcox
Summary: Research indicates that accidents from gas drilling activities may have negative impacts on wetland environments and amphibians near the Marcellus Shale play, leading to a sharp decline in the number of amphibians in affected areas.
WETLANDS ECOLOGY AND MANAGEMENT
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
George T. Merovich, Mack W. Frantz, Petra B. Wood
Summary: This study investigates the impacts of unconventional shale gas development on aquatic ecosystems and finds that it has weak negative effects on water quality and benthic macroinvertebrates. The impacts are particularly significant in the year with the most intense shale gas development activity, with downstream areas being affected more prominently.
ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING AND ASSESSMENT
(2022)
Article
Engineering, Petroleum
A. S. Gundogar, J. L. Druhan, C. M. Ross, A. D. Jew, J. R. Bargar, A. R. Kovscek
Summary: Field and laboratory observations show that the efficiency of hydraulic fracturing is affected by geochemical alterations to rock surfaces, which can block pore and fracture networks. The study focuses on changes to fluid chemistry and shale surfaces resulting from shale-fluid interactions. Different shale samples have different responses to fluid injection, indicating the importance of understanding the specific characteristics of the formation.
Article
Economics
Christopher E. Clarke, Darrick T. N. Evensen
Summary: This research examines media portrayals of unconventional oil and gas development's (UOGD) economic and environmental impacts. It reveals that selective attention to media coverage of the impacts can influence issue attitudes. The study also finds that political ideology plays a role in driving such attention, and that the attention given to different types of impacts predicts public support for UOGD.
Article
Geochemistry & Geophysics
Amanda E. Campbell, Laura K. Lautz, Gregory D. Hoke
Summary: This study aimed to test the reliability of pre-drilling water quality observations in assessing the impacts of later gas drilling. The research was conducted in a shale gas basin where hydraulic fracturing had not yet occurred. The findings showed that methane concentrations in groundwater can vary naturally through time due to changes in the mixture of freshwater and deeper formation brine extracted by wells, and not necessarily as a result of gas drilling. Therefore, comprehensive sampling and testing prior to drilling are necessary to distinguish the causes of changing methane concentrations.
APPLIED GEOCHEMISTRY
(2022)
Article
Environmental Studies
Christopher W. Podeschi, Jeffrey C. Brunskill, Gene L. Theodori
Summary: Research shows that communities close to hydraulic fracturing activities have lower support for fracking and stronger perceptions of community and environmental impacts. This effect is indirect and operates through respondents' perceptions of the array of fracking activities in their areas.
ENERGY RESEARCH & SOCIAL SCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
Brennan Ferguson, Vikas Agrawal, Shikha Sharma, J. Alexandra Hakala, Wei Xiong
Summary: This study investigates the role of carbonates in reactions between shale and hydraulic fracturing fluid, finding that carbonate minerals can regulate solution pH, prevent clay dissolution, scavenge oxidizing species, prevent oxidation of organic matter and VOCs, and reduce pyrite dissolution.
FRONTIERS IN EARTH SCIENCE
(2021)
Review
Energy & Fuels
Zhou Zhou, Xiaopeng Li, Tadesse Weldu Teklu
Summary: This study emphasizes on the significance of imbibition in unconventional formations, discussing key factors influencing the process and exploring the role of osmotic forces in fluid imbibition.
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Jennifer A. Caldwell, Christopher K. Williams, Margaret C. Brittingham, Thomas J. Maier
Summary: This paper examines the issue of hydraulic fracturing for natural gas in the Marcellus Shale and highlights the tradeoffs between economic benefits and environmental impacts. The Marcellus region has the largest proven reserves of natural gas in the US, but fracking has detrimental effects on wildlife and habitats. To achieve a more sustainable balance, it is recommended that industry, scientists, and regulators work together to develop best management practices.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Nur H. Orak, Matthew Reeder, Natalie J. Pekney
Summary: This study investigates emissions at an active Marcellus Shale well pad in the USA, identifying three main sources impacting air quality: natural gas, regional transport/photochemistry, and engine emissions. The study found that horizontal drilling phase significantly contributes to the natural gas factor, while engine emission factor increases over different well pad drilling periods. Regional transport/photochemistry factor is more pronounced during horizontal drilling and drillout stages.
ATMOSPHERIC CHEMISTRY AND PHYSICS
(2021)
Article
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
Yapei Ye, Shuheng Tang, Zhaodong Xi, Renqi Lu, Zhongyao Zhang, Jintao Li
Summary: Studying the microscopic characteristics of shale can provide a theoretical basis for evaluating its macroscopic mechanical properties and fracturability. Different types of quartz in shale have different effects on the quality of shale oil/gas reservoirs. This study used finite element numerical simulation to set up different models based on the microscopic occurrence states of quartz, and found that the size and occurrence mode of quartz have a significant impact on shale compressive strength, while quartz content has the most significant influence on shale brittleness. The presence of quartz particles can enhance the compressive strength of shale and form complex fracture networks.
NATURAL RESOURCES RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Multidisciplinary
Akhilesh Soni, Jeff Linderoth, James Luedtke, Fabian Rigterink
Summary: The scheduling of drilling and hydraulic fracturing in an unconventional oil field plays a crucial role in profitability. The study proposes a novel mixed-integer linear programming formulation and a rolling horizon approach to improve profitability by 4-6% based on experiments with synthetic instances.
OPTIMIZATION AND ENGINEERING
(2021)
Article
Development Studies
Matthew Gardner Kelly, Kai A. Schafft
Summary: The study focuses on the impact of unconventional gas development on education funding in public schools in the Marcellus Shale region of Pennsylvania, finding that districts with unconventional drilling experience less funding for education resources.
SOCIETY & NATURAL RESOURCES
(2021)
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Judith Green-McKenzie, Parvathi Somasundaram, Timothy Lawler, Edward O'Hara, Frances S. Shofer
JOURNAL OF OCCUPATIONAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL MEDICINE
(2020)
Editorial Material
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Theodore F. Them, Chinyere Omeogu, Judith Green-McKenzie
JOURNAL OF OCCUPATIONAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL MEDICINE
(2021)
Article
Immunology
Barbara J. Kuter, Safa Browne, Florence M. Momplaisir, Kristen A. Feemster, Angela K. Shen, Judith Green-McKenzie, Walter Faig, Paul A. Offit
Summary: The study found that although the majority of hospital employees are planning to receive a COVID-19 vaccine, there is still a portion who are unsure or unwilling to do so. Employees who are older, male, more educated, Asian or White, up-to-date on vaccinations, without direct patient contact are more likely to plan to take a COVID-19 vaccine.
Review
Environmental Sciences
Edward A. Emmett
Summary: As industrial asbestos use decreases, asbestos-related diseases (ARDs) caused by environmental and natural exposures in the community become more prominent, leading to higher proportions of mesothelioma in women and a younger age distribution. Community ARDs present specific public health issues and challenges.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Jeremy D. Wortzel, Douglas J. Wiebe, Shabnam Elahi, Atu Agawu, Frances K. Barg, Edward A. Emmett
Summary: This study conducted long-term follow-up on residents in the asbestos manufacturing community of Ambler, PA, identifying relationships between demographic characteristics, occupational, paraoccupational, and environmental asbestos exposure. The results revealed disparities in availability of death data and cause of death information among different population subgroups, highlighting the potential underestimation of asbestos exposure impact on vulnerable populations in historic cohort studies.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH
(2021)
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Natalie P. Hartenbaum, Beth A. Baker, Jeffrey L. Levin, Kenji Saito, Yusef Sayeed, Judith Green-McKenzie
Summary: Competency refers to possessing the necessary qualifications to achieve desired outcomes. The American College of Occupational and Environmental Medicine established OEM Competencies in 1998 and updated them in response to globalization, modernization of workplaces, and advancements in OEM practice. This delineation of core competencies helps provide a clear understanding of the role and expertise of OEM physicians to employers, government agencies, healthcare organizations, and other health practitioners.
JOURNAL OF OCCUPATIONAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL MEDICINE
(2021)
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Blythe Mansfield, Frances S. Shofer, Judith Green-McKenzie
Summary: The study found that introducing motorized stretchers led to a decrease in the number of injuries and restricted work days for transporters. Additionally, transporters incurred fewer lost work days after the introduction of motorized stretchers.
JOURNAL OF OCCUPATIONAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL MEDICINE
(2021)
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Florence M. Momplaisir, Barbara J. Kuter, Fatemeh Ghadimi, Safa Browne, Hervette Nkwihoreze, Kristen A. Feemster, Ian Frank, Walter Faig, Angela K. Shen, Paul A. Offit, Judith Green-McKenzie
Summary: Significant racial/ethnic disparities exist in COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy among healthcare workers, with Black, Hispanic or Latino, and Asian healthcare workers exhibiting higher levels of hesitancy compared to White healthcare workers. Reasons for vaccine hesitancy include concerns about side effects, the novelty of the vaccine, and a lack of knowledge about the vaccine.
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Judith Green-McKenzie, Frances S. Shofer, Maura Lappin, Erik Cohen, Daniel O'Connor, Barbara J. Kuter
Summary: This study suggests that the lack of adequate personal protective equipment (PPE) can result in burnout among healthcare personnel, potentially leading to employee turnover. It emphasizes the importance of including sufficient PPE in pandemic preparedness plans to ensure the well-being of healthcare personnel and the financial health of employers.
JOURNAL OF OCCUPATIONAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL MEDICINE
(2023)
Article
Immunology
Judith Green-McKenzie, Frances S. Shofer, Gregory Kruse, Florence Momplaisir, Patrick J. Brennan, Barbara J. Kuter
Summary: This study aimed to assess vaccine coverage rates before and after implementing a COVID-19 vaccine mandate among Health care Personnel (HCP) and to study demographic characteristics associated with vaccine uptake. The results showed that the vaccine series completion rate was 86.0% before the mandate announcement and increased to 98.7% after mandate implementation. Hospital educational initiatives appeared to improve vaccine uptake, particularly among Blacks, those of other/multiracial backgrounds, Hispanics, and those with some or no direct patient contact.
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Judith Green-McKenzie, Uma Savanoor, Harry Duran, Crystal Jones, David Vearrier, Paul Malak, Edward A. Emmett, Frances S. Shofer
Summary: The study found that the majority of medical students had limited understanding of Occupational & Environmental Medicine, and most OEM physicians indicated they may have chosen a different career path if they had learned about OEM earlier. Additionally, most TIP program trainees reported that they wouldn't have undertaken specialty training without the TIP program.
JOURNAL OF PUBLIC HEALTH MANAGEMENT AND PRACTICE
(2021)
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Judith Green-McKenzie, Sajjad Savul
Summary: Establishing an Inclusion and Diversity Committee and implementing various strategies have successfully increased the graduation rate of Underrepresented Minorities physicians in Occupational Medicine, helping to promote health equity.
JOURNAL OF PUBLIC HEALTH MANAGEMENT AND PRACTICE
(2021)
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Lalitha Gumidyala, Sajjad A. Savul, Frances S. Shofer, Judith Green-McKenzie
Summary: This study evaluated the impact of the CDC's opioid prescription guidelines on adult patients presenting with low back pain in the emergency department. The results showed a significant reduction in both the quantity and length of opioid prescriptions after the guidelines were implemented, demonstrating the positive influence of public health policies on provider decision making and behaviors.
JOURNAL OF PUBLIC HEALTH MANAGEMENT AND PRACTICE
(2021)
Review
Environmental Sciences
Shannon L. Wallis, Edward A. Emmett, Robyn Hardy, Brenda B. Casper, Dan J. Blanchon, Joseph R. Testa, Craig W. Menges, Cedric Gonneau, Douglas J. Jerolmack, Ali Seiphoori, Gregor Steinhorn, Terri-Ann Berry
FRONTIERS IN ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE
(2020)