Health Survey Results of Current and Former DISH/Clark, Texas Residents

Executive Summary - December, 2009

Of the population surveyed 19% considered themselves to be sick, or both healthy and sick. 81% considered themselves to be healthy. However, 39% of the population reported frequency of illness on average of three days per week and five days per month with a maximum of seven days per week and all days of the month. Participants reported 130 medical conditions and of the conditions the survey identifies 23 most prevalent medical conditions. 71% of participants reported having respiratory ailments.
Notable results from the survey include:

1. A summary of odor events experienced by participants, odor frequencies and possible odor sources, and
2. A comparison of health effects reported by the community with the known effects of chemicals found in the DISH area by Wolf Eagle Environmental in August of 2009.

First, 28 of the 31 individuals surveyed experienced odor events. Frequency of odor events ranged from one to two times per day to 24 days per month. Participants associated odors with specific facilities in the DISH area including, compressor stations, gas processing plants and metering stations, natural gas pipelines, gas wells, sewer systems and pastures.
Second, the human health impacts reported during the survey were compared to the health impacts associated with toxic air emission chemicals detected in the ambient air of DISH in August 2009, in excess of TCEQ screening levels. 61% of the health impacts reported by participants are known health effects of chemicals detected in the air by Wolf Eagle Environmental in August 2009. These chemicals include

• Volatile Organic Chemicals,
• Hazardous Air Pollutants, and
• Tentatively Identified Compounds.

EARTHWORKS’ Oil and Gas Accountability Project
Full Report: http://www.earthworksaction.org/pubs/DishTXHealthSurvey_FINAL_hi.pdf