Water analysis was conducted to assess whether or not regional Marcellus shale gas drilling in Western Pennsylvania has an impact on local waterways. This drilling involves hydraulic fracturing (hydrofracking) in which harmful volatile organic compounds (VOC's) and toxic wastewater with hazardous metals can be released into the environment. Water analysis was conducted on samples collected from near Washington, Pennsylvania, a region that has recently experienced exponential growth of natural gas drilling through hydrofracking. Metal analysis was done using inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectroscopy (ICP-OES). Levels of such common contaminants as Ba, Hg, As, Sr, Pb, and Cr are presented. Additional analysis of VOC's was done via gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GCMS). Possible VOC's of concern include benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and xylene. In general, this study provides information as to whether or not hydrofracking and Marcellus shale drilling has impacted regional water.

Assessing contaminants in water near Marcellus shale drilling and hydrofracking

247th National Meeting (2014)

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