National Institute of Health approves $125,000 grant for study of the risks from frac sand mining

The University of Iowa will conduct a study of the potential health risks from frac sand mining, thanks to the National Institute of Health's approval of a $124,868 grant to the project.

The study will try to determine the impact frac sand mining would have in Allamakee and Winneshiek counties and any other Iowa counties where frac sand is located.

The project by the University of Iowa will study how large-scale silica sand mining operations in Wisconsin have affected the levels of particulate matter and crystalline silica in Wisconsin, using air monitoring devices.  The research then will be shared at two workshops to which Northeast Iowa, Southeastern MInnesota and Western Wisconsin residents will be invited.  The study has a completion date of next March.