Emissions of particulate matter due to Marcellus Shale gas development in Pennsylvania: Mapping the implications

Over the past decade, shale gas boom has led to increasing public concerns regarding communities' exposure air pollutants from development resulting in concentrations higher than EPA's National Ambient Air Quality Standards. This study investigates sufficiency of current policy Pennsylvania protect people fine particulate matter (PM2.5) emissions such development. We used a Gaussian plume model simulate PM2.5 over Marcellus region Pennsylvania, and using census block data, we estimated potential number who experienced exceedance standard between 2005 2017. Results demonstrate that these could increase exceedances by more 36,000 persons single year which is almost 1% regional population Pennsylvania. largely been proportional overall developed wells, but histories show similar levels occur with reduced exposure. Setback shown be an effective method reduce exceedances, results suggest it should revised based on wells per wellpad as well local conditions further limit quality impacts.