Hydraulic fracturing (HF), a method to enhance oil and gas production, has become increasingly common throughout the U.S.  As such, it is important to characterize the chemicals found in HF fluid to evaluate potential environmental and human health impacts. Eighty-one common HF chemical additives were identified and categorized according to their functions. Physical and chemical characteristics of these additives were determined using publicly available chemical information databases. Fifty-four of the compounds are organic and twenty-seven of these are considered readily biodegradable. Twenty-one chemicals have high theoretical oxygen demands and are used in concentrations that present potential treatment challenges.  Most of the HF chemicals evaluated were non-toxic or of low toxicity and only four were classified as Category 2 oral toxins and one as a Category 1 inhalation toxin according standards in the Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labeling of Chemicals; however, toxicity information was not located for thirty-four of the HF chemicals evaluated.  Volatilization is not expected to be a significant exposure pathway for most HF chemicals. Gaps in toxicity and other chemical properties suggests  deficiencies in the current state of knowledge,  highlighting the need for further assessment  to understand potential issues associated with HF chemicals in the environment.

Characterizing compounds used in hydraulic fracturing: A necessary step for understanding environmental impacts

248th National Meeting (2014)

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