FSES researchers recently traveled to Carroll County, Ohio to study air quality surrounding unconventional natural gas drilling, or “fracking.” Interest in air quality has risen as fracking has increased in the area. Researchers at the University of Cincinnati worked with the community to find volunteers for a pilot study assessing air quality, funded by the NIEHS. The FSES team set up passive air samplers on the properties of 23 volunteers. The properties are a range of distances from well pads in all stages of production.  This will allow the researchers to get an idea of air quality before, during, and after fracking. Volunteers will mail the samplers back to FSES for analysis starting in March.