WHEELING, W.Va. -- The Wheeling-Ohio County Health Department is participating in a study by West Virginia University of natural gas drilling-related air quality.

Department administrator Howard Gamble says the university will use preliminary data collected over the next few months to help secure grant funding for a larger study.

The Intelligencer and Wheeling News-Register says Gamble discussed the study Tuesday during a regular board of health meeting.

Air quality at various sites and distances from wells and at all phases of the gas drilling process in Ohio County will be measured. Researchers also may collect data in Marshall and Brooke counties.

Gamble says no air quality data specifically linked to gas drilling in Ohio County is currently available.