title: Assessment and longitudinal analysis of health impacts and stressors perceived to result from unconventional shale gas development in the Marcellus Shale region.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Concerns for health and social impacts have arisen as a result of Marcellus Shale unconventional natural gas development. Our goal was to document the self-reported health impacts and mental and physical health stressors perceived to result from Marcellus Shale development.
  
  
  METHODS
  Two sets of interviews were conducted with a convenience sample of community members living proximal to Marcellus Shale development, session 1 March-September 2010 (n = 33) and session 2 January-April 2012 (n = 20). Symptoms of health impacts and sources of psychological stress were coded. Symptom and stressor counts were quantified for each interview. The counts for each participant were compared longitudinally.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Participants attributed 59 unique health impacts and 13 stressors to Marcellus Shale development. Stress was the most frequently-reported symptom. Over time, perceived health impacts increased (P = 0·042), while stressors remained constant (P = 0·855).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Exposure-based epidemiological studies are needed to address identified health impacts and those that may develop as unconventional natural gas extraction continues. Many of the stressors can be addressed immediately.
authors.affiliation: Graduate School Of Public Health, University Of Pittsburgh, PA, USA. kjf10@pitt.edu
authors.forename: Kyle J
authors.initials: KJ
authors.lastname: Ferrar
authors.forename: Jill
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kriesky
authors.forename: Charles L
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Christen
authors.forename: Lynne P
authors.initials: LP
authors.lastname: Marshall
authors.forename: Samantha L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Malone
authors.forename: Ravi K
authors.initials: RK
authors.lastname: Sharma
authors.forename: Drew R
authors.initials: DR
authors.lastname: Michanowicz
authors.forename: Bernard D
authors.initials: BD
authors.lastname: Goldstein
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D004781:Environmental Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D019652:Extraction and Processing Industry; D005260:Female; D062489:Health Impact Assessment / Q000379:methods*; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008603:Mental Health / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008875:Middle Aged; D059206:Natural Gas; D010414:Pennsylvania / Q000453:epidemiology; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013312:Stress, Physiological; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000453:epidemiology
chemical_list: D059206:Natural Gas