PubMed · 16449767
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James Cave. 2006. Walking the walk.. https://doi.org/10.1177/014107680609900206
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This paper describes the implementation of life cycle assessment to investigate the environmental impact of 20 technologies suitable for treating extensive volumes of water produced during the oil and gas extraction processes. Data on the physical and operational attributes of technologies under consideration were assembled and their life cycle environmental impacts estimated over 15 year time period. The results were then incorporated in a decision support system which allows identification and prioritisation of potential technology combinations capable of producing water for nine designated industrial and agricultural end uses. In total, more than 618 technology combinations were investigated for their environmental impacts. The identification and prioritisation of technologies were done on the basis of their environmental and technical performance. This analysis showed that dissolved air flotation, absorbents, dual media filtration and reverse osmosis technologies offer relatively low environmental impact parts of systems for cleaning such process waters. Furthermore, the environmental assessment combined within the decision support system has revealed potentially valuable indirect downstream "benefits" from effects such as evaporative losses from wetlands in terms of the overall environmental impact of a treatment system.
BACKGROUND: Our aim was to analyse the incidence of reported occupational hearing loss in the Norwegian offshore industry over the period 1992 to 2003. This industry has for many years focused on noise as a risk factor, and workers are regularly screened for hearing loss. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In 1992 the Petroleum Safety Authority in Norway established a reporting system for occupationally related diseases in the petroleum industry. The information gained might be helpful in preventing occupational hearing loss. A descriptive analysis of this register is presented. RESULTS: Hearing loss and musculoskeletal disorders were the most frequently reported work-related diseases. A total of 1709 cases of occupational hearing loss were reported from 1992 through 2003. The incidence of reported hearing loss varied, from 1 per 1000 in 1992 to 9 per 1000 in 2002. Most cases were found in the age group 50 to 59 years. The largest number of reported hearing losses was found among mechanics, painters and building structure cleaners, electricians, process technicians, and roughnecks. INTERPRETATION: The reported number of occupational hearing loss among workers in the Norwegian offshore industry in the period 1992 to 2003 shows that hearing loss is an important health challenge. Control measures are still needed. Continuous improvement in the reporting system and further research on risk factors and control measures should be discussed.
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