Chemical Exposure Toxicology Related to Shale Gas Development

Dr. David R. Brown, ScD

Video Presentation by Dr. David Brown on “Fundamental Chemical Toxicology with Exposure Related to Shale Gas Development

A greater emphasis is needed on the human health exposures to the chemicals in Marcellus shale gas development.  This is the focus of Dr. David R. Brown, ScD, a consultant in chemical toxicology who is speaking out and giving lectures on the fundamental scientific aspects of this subject. He has been working with the Physicians Engineers and Scientists for Healthy Energy. He is the public health toxicologist with the Southwest Pennsylvania Environmental Health Project.

A systematic approach to understanding the toxic actions of chemicals is helpful when the physiological sites of action are known. Most agents follow chemical class. The shale exposures involve a mixture of chemical and physical agents. This presentation provides information on what chemicals do in shale gas exposure as well as the fundamental toxicology of these chemicals.

After completion of his course, the learner should be able to:

1. Describe fundamental toxicology of chemicals associated with shale gas development
2. Describe what chemicals do in shale gas emissions exposure
3. Describe framework for how people evaluate chemical mixtures
4. Describe four completed pathways of exposure
5. Describe 12 emissions of concern for immediate toxic responses
6. Describe health conditions reported by multiple sources and locations in the United States

David Brown is the Public Health Toxicologist and Director of Public Health Toxicology for Environment and Human Health, Inc. He is the past Chief of Environmental Epidemiology and Occupational Health in Connecticut and was previously Associate Professor of Toxicology at Northeastern College of Pharmacy and Allied Health.

He also served as Deputy Director of the Public Health Practice Group of Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) at the National Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta, Georgia. Dr. Brown graduated from Cornell University in Biochemistry, received his MS from the University of California In Environmental Health, and his ScD from Harvard School of Public Health in Toxicology.