Western oil shale development: a technology assessment. Volume 8. Health effects of oil shale development
Information on the potential health effects of a developing oil shale industry can be derived from two major sources: (1) the historical experience in foreign countries that have had major industries; and (2) the health effects research that has been conducted in the US in recent years. The information presented here is divided into two major sections: one dealing with the experience in foreign countries and the second dealing with the more recent work associated with current oil shale development in the US. As a result of the study, several observations can be made: (1) most of the current and historical data from foreign countries relate to occupational hazards rather than to impacts on regional populations; (2) neither the historical evidence from other countries nor the results of current research have shown pulmonary neoplasia to be a major concern, however, certain types of exposure, particularly such mixed source exposures as dust/diesel or dust/organic-vapor have not been adequately studied and the lung cancer question is not closed; (3) the industry should be alert to the incidence of skin disease in the industrial setting, however, automated techniques, modern industrial hygiene practices and realistic personal hygiene should greatly reduce the hazards associated with skin contact; and (4) the entire question of regional water contamination and any resultant health hazard has not been adequately addressed. The industrial practice of hydrotreating the crude shale oil will diminish the carcinogenic hazard of the product, however, the quantitative reduction of biological activity is dependent on the degree of hydrotreatment. Both Soviet and American experimentalists have demonstrated a correlation betweed carcinogenicity/toxicity and retorting temperature; the higher temperatures producing the more carcinogenic or toxic products.
- Research Organization:
- Pacific Northwest National Lab. (PNNL), Richland, WA (United States)
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC06-76RL01830
- OSTI ID:
- 5567872
- Report Number(s):
- PNL-3830-Vol.8; LA-UR-81-1785; ON: DE82008695
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
OIL SHALE PROCESSING PLANTS
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS
HEALTH HAZARDS
RETORTING
CARCINOGENESIS
CONTAMINATION
GROUND WATER
HUMAN POPULATIONS
HYDROTORTING PROCESS
LUNGS
NEOPLASMS
OIL SHALES
PERSONNEL
SKIN
SURFACE WATERS
TECHNOLOGY ASSESSMENT
TEMPERATURE DEPENDENCE
WATER POLLUTION
BITUMINOUS MATERIALS
BODY
CARBONACEOUS MATERIALS
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
DECOMPOSITION
DISEASES
ENERGY SOURCES
FOSSIL FUELS
FUELS
HAZARDS
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
INDUSTRIAL PLANTS
MATERIALS
ORGANS
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PATHOGENESIS
POLLUTION
POPULATIONS
RESPIRATORY SYSTEM
WATER
040700* - Oil Shales & Tar Sands- Health & Safety
041000 - Oil Shales & Tar Sands- Environmental Aspects