HEI Energy releases exposure literature survey

HEI Energy — a new affiliate of the Health Effects Institute— has released Communication 1, Human Exposure to Unconventional Oil and Gas Development: A Literature Survey for Research Planning.

In the final Communication, the HEI Energy Research Committee surveyed a wide range of evidence (over 200 studies across the United States) to summarize what we know about environmental exposures associated with unconventional oil and natural gas development in the United States and to identify needs for new, priority exposure research. The goal is to produce science to inform policy decisions by regulators, communities, the oil and natural gas industry, environmental organizations, public health experts, and other stakeholders.

HEI Energy was launched to provide high-quality and impartial science that answers questions about potential human exposure and health effects associated with onshore development of oil and natural gas from shale and other unconventional resources in the United States. Informed by public comments on this Communication, as well as data gathered from a companion report, Special Report 1, Potential Human Health Effects Associated with Unconventional Oil and Gas Development: A Systematic Review of the Epidemiology Literature, the HEI Energy Research Committee expects to release a Request for Applications in 2020, seeking multidisciplinary teams with the skill and capacity to conduct exposure studies in multiple oil- and gas-producing regions of the United States.