Biological effects of inhaled hydraulic fracturing sand dust. II. Particle characterization and pulmonary effects 30 d following intratracheal instillation.

ABSTRACT: Hydraulic fracturing ("fracking") is used in unconventional gas drilling to allow for the free flow of natural gas from rock. Sand in fracking fluid is pumped into the well bore under high pressure to enter and stabilize fissures in the rock. In the process of manipulating the sand on site, respirable dust (fracking sand dust, FSD) is generated. Inhalation of FSD is a potential hazard to workers inasmuch as respirable crystalline silica causes silicosis, and levels of FSD at drilling work sites have exceeded occupational exposure limits set by OSHA. In the absence of any information about its potential toxicity, a comprehensive rat animal model was designed to investigate the bioactivities of several FSDs in comparison to MIN-U-SIL® 5, a respirable α-quartz reference dust used in previous

SUBMITTER: Fedan JS 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7818045 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature