— Non-Metallic Mining —
Frac-Sand Mining in Wisconsin
Sand mining is not a new in Wisconsin, however, the amount and size of sand mines in Wisconsin has sky rocketed with the development of hydraulic fracking. Fracking is a process of extracting natural gas and crude oil deposits from rock formations and requires high-quality quartz sand.
Health Harms
Silica dust, a human carcinogen, blows off of mine sites and off of trucks transporting frac-sand. Studies show that humans who are exposed to silica dust can be at risk for negative health impacts even if the dust is not visible to the eye, and if the dust is visible, the health risks are almost definite. (1) Silica dust causes silicosis, a serious and incurable lung condition that causes scarring in the lungs, severe cough, weakness, difficulty breathing, and in some cases, death. (1) It hinders the body’s ability to fight infections, leaving the patient vulnerable to other illnesses that can cause chest pains and respiratory failure.(2) The symptoms of silicosis may not manifest themselves for fifteen to twenty years after silica dust exposure, meaning the negative public health effects of frac sand mining in Wisconsin will not be fully understood for decades. (3)
Aerial view of sand mine in Wisconsin from WI DNR.
Silicosis in Wisconsin
According to the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, 75 people have died of silicosis in Wisconsin between 1996 and 2005. Most of these victims were mining and manufacturing workers, but this demographic could change as more citizens are exposed to higher levels of silica dust outside the workplace. (3)
Wisconsin citizens petitioned the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources in 2011 to adopt and enforce an air quality standard of 3 micrograms of silica per cubic meter of air, the standard adopted by California. The DNR denied the petition, even though the DNR itself had conducted a study that documented the health risks of silica dust and concluded that it meets the definition of a carcinogenic hazardous air pollutant. (4) One of the only ways to prevent silicosis is to avoid sources of silica dust. This will be nearly impossible for families whose homes and communities are increasingly surrounded by frac-sand mines and mine transportation routes that emit silica dust.
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In The News
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TIGHTER, CONTROVERSIAL SILICA RULES AIMED AT SAVING WORKERS' LUNGS
NPR (March 24, 2016)
About 2.3 million people in the U. S. are exposed to fine grains of silica on the job; inhaling the dust is one of the oldest known workplace hazards. Silica, which is basically sand, scars the lungs, causing diseases like silicosis and cancer.
FORTY-TWO YEARS LATER, OSHA OKS RULE PROTECTING WORKERS FROM SILICA
The Center for Public Integrity (March 24, 2016)
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s announced a new standard on silica, replacing a rule set in 1971. It reduces the allowable exposure limit to 50 micrograms per cubic meter of air, five times less than the current limit.
INCREASE DISTANCE BETWEEN WELL PADS AND PEOPLE, ENVIRONMENTAL GROUPS URGE
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette (March 2, 2016)
There has been a call for state-required setbacks between hydraulically fractured gas wells and homes may leave residents, schoolchildren and the public vulnerable to explosions, heat, toxic gas clouds and air pollution.
SAND COUNTY, THE SEQUEL
Orion Magazine (No Date)
This piece explores the sand mining industry in Wisconsin through the lens of Aldo Leopold.
WISCONSIN RESIDENTS SEEK ANSWERS ABOUT HEALTH RISKS NEAR IOWA SAND MINES
Des Moines Register (March 21, 2019)
Researchers and citizens have become concerned about the health effects silica-sand mining which drives fracking.
LIVING NEAR A FRACKING SITE CAN HARM AMERICAN MENTAL HEALTH IN 2 KEY WAYS
Inverse (October 31, 2020)
People with homes near fracking operations describe vibrations that can make sleep difficult and disturb their pets. Truck traffic around well pads adds to the noise, dust, and other airborne pollutants, creating another layer of industrial disruption.
Written in part through a collaboration between the Wisconsin Environmental Health Network and the Midwest Environmental Advocates.
Sources Cited:
https://www.lung.org/lung-health-diseases/lung-disease-lookup/silicosis
https://www.lung.org/lung-health-diseases/lung-disease-lookup
https://www.winonadailynews.com/special-section/fracsand/article_59128734-d543-11e1-a999-0019bb2963f4.html
https://dnr.wi.gov/files/PDF/pubs/am/AM407.pdf