Amanda DeShong of St. Clairsville was one of many area residents with questions and fears of contamination due to the fracking process. She asked questions Monday during a presentation at Ohio University Eastern.

ST. CLAIRSVILLE — Yale University researchers came to Ohio University East to share their thoughts on a proposed injection well in Richland Township, but many local residents in attendance were left with more questions than answers.

The auditorium at Shannon Hall was packed with residents Monday night, concerned over the saltwater injection well may be coming to the intersection of U.S. 40 and Ohio 331. During the college presentation, crowds gathered to hear presentations from speakers, including Nicole Deziel, assistant professor of epidemiology with Yale University. Deziel conducted an air and water quality study in 2016, and is conducting a study on drinking water in Monroe and Belmont counties, which will conclude in August.

They also heard from John Stolz, director of the Center for Environmental Research and Education at Duquesne University. Deziel opened by describing the fracking process, which involves drilling more than a mile below the ground and pumping large quantities of water under high pressure, fracturing it and freeing the oil and gas, along with brine and underground materials such as arsenic, lead and radioactive compounds.

Deziel said this wastewater must be managed and disposed of.

Deziel said her study was motivated by the fast-paced expansion of the oil and gas industry and the growing number of people living within one mile of a non-conventional well, or with a water source within one mile to such a well, and concerns of contamination and health risks.

“Ohio is one of the most prolific areas in the U.S. (in terms of gas production),” she said.

Deziel added that she was concerned with such issues as spills, leaks and deteriorating casing. During her 2016 study, she analyzed water in 66 homes and observed their proximity to a well. She added that while some chemicals were found in drinking water, all were well below U.S. Environmental Protection Agency standards. She also said she could not be certain of the source of the chemicals.

“This study did not tell us anything about the source of these chemicals. Many of these have other sources in addition to hydraulic fracking,” she said. “It showed some patterns that underscore the need for more research.”

Currently, Deziel is conducting the Yale Water Energy Resource Study through August, with the goal of determining whether the fracking industry is impacting the quality and chemistry of drinking water. She added that she is asking for volunteers to allow the researchers to test their water.

Numerous residents voiced their questions. Amanda DeShong of St. Clairsville inquired about other dangers such as skin contact contamination from showers, and inhalation of vapor.

“A lot of these chemicals enter our bodies through many different ways,” DeShong said. “We are drinking and washing and washing our clothes.”

Deziel said standards are set by ingestion, and that while some studies indicate increase skin irritation and respiratory problems among people near such wells, the precise cause could not be determined.

“You’re raising all the complexities we’re trying to get a handle on,” Deziel said.

Another resident asked how fast and how far contamination could move in the event of an accident. Stolz said it depends on many factors such as the shallowness of the water.

Others asked about what chemicals are used in the fracking process and expressed concern that these chemicals may not be disclosed by the companies. Deziel said information could be found at fracfocus.org, a chemical disclosure registry.

“In most states, they’re not legally required to put everything,” she said.

Prior to the presentation, John Kanyuch of the Richland Township area expressed concern about fault lines in the area.

Mike Chadsey, director of public relations with the Ohio Oil & Gas Association, an organization of oil and gas producers with the mission of promoting the interests those engaged in all aspects of the industry, also attended and gave his impression.

“Just sitting through the first part of the presentation, I believe it was a spectacular use of misinformation,” he said. “I don’t believe intentionally, I think these folks are here to educate about issues and concerns, but they are clearly not familiar with Ohio geology, they are clearly not familiar with Ohio’s rules and regulations or Ohio’s policies, and the more questions they answered, you could see in the audience, the more (confused) people were getting. … I think they came here to try and educate folks, and they’re going to walk out more confused because (the presenters are) not from here and they don’t have the geological background.”

Chadsey said said Ohio is a full-disclosure state.

“Anybody, including the regulators, know exactly what chemical constituents are being used,” he said, adding that the precise recipe is proprietary, but concerned citizens, regulators and landowners are able to access information.

He also added that many of the chemicals referred to in the study are household items.

Property owners within 500 feet of the proposed site received notification in early April from Omni Energy Group LLC informing them that the application has been filed with the Ohio Department of Natural Resources. According to ODNR Spokesman Adam Schroeder, the application is still being reviewed, with no decision expected in the near future.

For more information and to participate in the study, contact 203-737-6229 or waterstudy.yale.edu.