1. Air Quality Around Frac Sand
Facilities
Save the Hills Alliance Meeting
19 March 2016
Ethan Fuhrman, Jacob Kentnich, Pang Houa Xiong Yang,
Hannah Renee Brown, Maryanne Cowart, Ruijian Liang,
John Awad, Jonathan Dahlen, and Crispin Pierce PhD
University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire

2. • Frac sand mining and processing generate PM
(particulate matter) including silica through blasting,
loading, and hauling; processing activities such as
crushing; and transporting frac sand and “waste sand.”
Image:
upstreamonline.com
Photo: Vaughn Nagahashi

3. Human Health Concerns
• Airborne pollutants (PM10 and PM2.5)
• Waterborne pollutants
• Noise pollution
• Light pollution
• Wetland loss that affects local water quality.
• Truck traffic that affects road safety.
• Greenhouse gas generation that increases
climate change.

4. Health Impact
• Increased respiratory symptoms, such as
irritation of the airways, coughing, or difficulty
breathing, asthma
• Development of chronic bronchitis
• Dysrhythmia
• Nonfatal heart attacks
• Premature death in people with heart or lung
disease
• Lung cancer
• Silicosis
• Kidney, autoimmune diseases

5. Particle Size is Important
Image: Modified from http://www.riverpartners.org
Not to scale. PM2.5 is 1/30 the
width of a human hair.

6. PM2.5 is in the Air for 10-15 Days
Residence Time in the Atmosphere
(Jaenicke, 1978)
1 mm ~ 15 days
Husar 2003

7. MSHA Findings
Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) monitoring of EOG Resources,
Chippewa Falls, WI.

8. NIOSH (National Institute for
Occupational Safety and Health)

9. Exceedances of Occupational Limits
0
0.02
0.04
0.06
0.08
0.1
0.12
0.14
SiO2Concentration(mg/m3)
47%
32%
21%
OSHA PEL
0.098 mg/m3
NIOSH REL
0.050 mg/m3
MSHA NIOSH

10. University of Iowa Data
Ryan Grant 2015

11. Industry Data in Wisconsin
EPA found levels <3 ug/m3 in major cities (EPA/600/R95/115) .

12. EPA Annua

13. Industry Data in Minnesota
EPA Annual
Standard

14. PM10 Levels Are at the Limit Set by
WHO and the State of California

15. DNR Regulation
• Uses EPA AERMOD computer model to predict
increase in air levels of pollutants.
– Amount of sand processed per day
– Unit emission rates for different kinds of stacks
– Pollution control equipment (e.g., baghouses)
• PM10 monitoring “required” but often
waived.
• “Fugitive dust control plan” for emissions not
from a stack.

16. Sources: Dryers and dryer areas 1 and 2,
and Product Silos
University of Iowa Environmental Health Sciences

17. Sources: Dryers and dryer areas 1 and 2, Product Silos,
Rail Loadout, Truck Receiving Station, Conveyers and
Stackers Surge Piles, and Haul Road
University of Iowa Environmental Health Sciences

18. Our Direct-reading Levels of PM2.5
• Measured at EOG, Superior Silica Sands (New
Auburn, Auburn), Fairmount mine
(Menomonie), and Hi-Crush (Bridge Creek).
• Levels were 1.7-22 micrograms/m3 higher
than concurrent DNR regional levels and often
higher than the EPA standard.

19. 9
4.5
19.5
0
13.10
6.20
41.30
6.9
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
45
PM2.5(ug/m3)
DNR Eau Claire PM 2.5 (ug/m3)
DustTrak PM 2.5 (ug/m3)
12/17/12
EOG No wind
or activity.
12/28/12
SSS Slight wind,
frequent truck
activity, snowing.
1/3/13
EOG Slight
wind, regular
truck & train
activity.
1/9/13
Fairmount
Strong wind,
low truck
activity.
EPA Annual PM 2.5 Standard
Direct-Reading Measurements in
Wisconsin

20. 24-Hour Filter Samples
• Have also shown elevation of PM2.5 around
sand plants, compared to DNR regional levels
and often higher than the EPA standard.

21. Filter-Based Measurements
EPA Average
Standard

22. ENPH Researchers install instruments at Bloomer, WI air sampling site.

23. EPA-Certified Samplers PM10
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
45
50
PM10Micrograms/m3
PM10 Values in Bloomer/Cook's Valley WI
150 EPA Second-Highest Annual Standard
World Health Organization Average
Standard

24. EPA-Certified Samplers PM2.5
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
PM2.5Micrograms/m3
PM2.5 Values in Bloomer/Cook's Valley WI vs. Regional DNR Values
Micro
DNR
EPA “Worst case” (98th %ile) Standard
EPA Average
Standard

25. Preliminary EPA Instrument PM2.5
Levels in New Auburn, WI
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
1 2 3 4
Sample Days
EPA Average Standard

26. Precipitation Appears to Lower PM2.5

27. Next Steps
• Continue monitoring in New Auburn and
Augusta/Bridge Creek.
• Work with DNR to co-locate and test our
monitors next to theirs.
• Use AERMOD computer program to assess
particulate pollution from multiple sand plant
sources.

28. SUMMARY
• Frac sand mining, processing, and transportation
increase fine dust particle levels (PM2.5, which
include crystalline silica) in the air.
• These particles are known to cause
cardiovascular disease, lung disease and lung
cancer.
• Our measurements have found higher levels
around sand plants, compared to regional levels,
often above the EPA standard.
• Monitoring of local PM2.5 and silica is essential
to protect public health.

29. Questions?
• Crispin Pierce, PhD
• Associate Professor, University of Wisconsin-Eau
Claire
• 715-836-5589
• piercech@uwec.edu
• http://www.uwec.edu/Watershed/enph/silica/index.
htm

30. Additional Resources
 Our research page: http://www.uwec.edu/watershed/enph/silica/
 FracTracker Site with maps of activities in each state: http://www.fractracker.org/
 Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources Map of monitoring data: http://dnr.wi.gov/topic/Mines/ISMMap.html
 Wisconsin DNR Description of industrial sand mining in the state: http://dnr.wi.gov/topic/Mines/Sand.html
 “Wisconsin Watch” investigative reporting page on frac mining: http://wisconsinwatch.org/series/frac-sand/
 “Concerned Chippewa Citizens” Community group opposed to frac mining: https://wisair.wordpress.com/
 Video clip of processing activities posted by a mining company in Augusta, WI: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pzO5_-
wANgc#t=520
 Wisconsin Public Radio story on our work: http://www.wpr.org/high-levels-super-fine-dust-are-detected-around-wisconsin-
frac-sand-mines?utm_content=buffer8947f&utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook.com&utm_campaign=buffer
 Aerial drone video clip of the Town of Howard frac sand mine: http://youtu.be/qwuj7yLq99s
 Minnesota Pollution Control Agency Page on frac sand mining in the state: http://www.pca.state.mn.us/index.php/air/air-
quality-and-pollutants/air-pollutants/silica-sand-mining/index.html