What I found out about Benzene

I spent some time over the last few nights reading information from the Center For Disease Control (CDC), OSHA, and NIOSH on Benzene. I was reading this because benzene has been associated with natural gas production in the Barnett Shale, and XTO energy is requesting a permit here in Corinth, Texas to drill a natural gas well. As it turns out, benzene is associated with both oil and gas production (not surprising), and as a result of our industrialized society, is floating around in the air we breathe.

According to the CDC people who smoke get a far larger dose of benzene than people who don't. Benzene in the cigarettes - another good reason not to smoke if you needed a new one. We have benzene around us in the house. What I gleaned from the CDC information is that benzene is occurring at something around 1.7 ppb (parts per billion) in our out door air - not associated with any particularly polluted location. If you are walking along behind your lawn mower, you are probably getting more benzene because that is a by product of internal combustion engines.

So - the first question becomes how much is too much? According to the CDC and OSHA 500 ppm (parts per million - contrasted to billion above) is life threatening. Immediately life threatening. 50 PPM is considered the highest level that a person can withstand for about 30 minutes or so to escape to clean air. OSHA sets the limit for occupational exposure (10 hours a day, 40 hours a week) at 1 ppm.

Now - the second question - how much benzene do gas wells emit? The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) is asking that question, and is actively setting up monitoring. The TCEQ has identified some wells where significant amounts of benzene (along with a long list of other petrochemicals) were found down wind in the air.

So, there is the potential for benzene to be emitted by a gas well (or an oil well for that matter). Because there is that potential, it seems reasonable to me that the city should take steps at least to monitor any wells we have in the city limits. Part of our permit process might need to include provisions for not only sound monitoring and insurance, but air quality monitoring also.

In fairness that is a big job. How do we do it? How much does it cost? Who should pay for it? I am interested in finding a way to tighten our drilling ordinances to include air quality monitoring and have to get the answers to those questions and more to try and introduce that change.