Radioactive byproduct has been spread on Ohio roadways for more than four decades
Ohio State University researchers have launched an exploratory study examining how exposure to oilfield brine may affect the long-term health of residents in communities where the substance has been applied to roadways for more than four decades.
Oilfield brine is a byproduct of oil and gas development whose radioactive contents are known to cause serious health issues, according to the Associated Press. In some townships in Licking County, the brine is spread on roads to melt ice and control dust. The study area also includes parts of Coshocton and Ashtabula counties.
Dr. Arbor Quist, an environmental epidemiologist and assistant professor at OSU, is the principal investigator on the project. Quist said the field work in Licking County is just beginning this summer.
“I’ve been working on issues related to the health effects of oil and gas development for the past decade,” Quist said. “But this project is just starting this summer, and so the work in Licking County is just starting this summer.”
The study is seeking baby teeth from area residents as part of its investigation into potential health effects from the brine, the AP reported. The research team intends to understand how decades of exposure to the substance could be impacting the health of people living in the affected communities.