Scottish shale oil—production, occupational exposure and health effects

Abstract

AbstractExpansion of shale oil production to commercial scale in Colorado, USA required an investigation of potential adverse health effects that could result from exposure to raw shale oil, intermediate streams and final products. Comparison of Scottish shale oil products, operations, occupational exposures and adverse health effects with shale oil products and operations planned for Colorado showed the importance of severe hydro‐treating of raw shale oil to remove biologically active molecules (believed to be mainly aromatic heterocyclics) that apparently were responsible for most of the adverse health effects experienced by Scottish shale oil workers, neighbors and users.