Air monitoring near fracking sites may miss emissions spikes

Image: Hydraulic fracturing drill rig in Pennsylvania (Credit: Environmental Protection Agency)

A study published in the journal Reviews on Environmental Health finds that air quality monitoring techniques around fracking sites often underestimate threats to public health, according to the Sacramento Bee.

Study authors say that regulators typically monitor for long-term air quality instead of focusing on fluctuations that can occur daily around fracking sites. They note that sensing technology could be applied in better ways.

Researchers say creating specialized monitoring programs would do more for communities around fracking sites. But they point out that creating such programs is difficult because emissions coming from gas facilities are not yet fully understood.