Air Emissions from Natural Gas Facilities in New York State.

Pasquale N Russo,David O Carpenter

doi:10.3390/ijerph16091591

Abstract

While New York has banned fracking, new and expanded natural gas pipelines are being constructed across the state. Our previous studies have reported that compressor stations are a major source of air pollution at fracking sites. We have used two federal datasets, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) National Emissions Inventory and Greenhouse Gas Inventory, to determine what is known concerning emissions from the compressor stations along natural gas pipelines in the state. From a total of 74 compressor stations only 18 report to EPA on emissions. In the seven year period between 2008 and 2014 they released a total of 36.99 million pounds of air pollutants, not including CO2 and methane. This included emissions of 39 chemicals known to be human carcinogens. There was in addition 6.1 billion pounds of greenhouse gases release from ten stations in a single year. These data clearly underestimate the total releases from the state’s natural gas transportation and distribution system. However, they demonstrate significant releases of air pollutants, some of which are known to cause human disease. In addition, they release large amounts of greenhouse gases that contribute to climate change.

Highlights

The World Health Organization recently stated that there are 4.2 million deaths every year as a result of exposure to ambient outdoor air pollution [1]
While there are natural sources of air pollution, most comes from combustion of fossil fuels, such as wood, coal, animal dung, oil, gasoline, and natural gas
In addition to the dangers to human health posed by air pollution, combustion of fossil fuels generates greenhouse gases, especially carbon dioxide [2]

Summary

Introduction

The World Health Organization recently stated that there are 4.2 million deaths every year as a result of exposure to ambient outdoor air pollution [1]. While there are natural sources of air pollution, most comes from combustion of fossil fuels, such as wood, coal, animal dung, oil, gasoline, and natural gas. In addition to the dangers to human health posed by air pollution, combustion of fossil fuels generates greenhouse gases, especially carbon dioxide [2]. The major component of natural gas, is a potent greenhouse gas, and most comes from fossil fuel exploitation and agriculture. It is more potent as a greenhouse gas than carbon dioxide, its residence time in the atmosphere is shorter [3]

Methods

Results

Discussion

Conclusion