Study argues the chemical compounds released during hydraulic fracturing activities are a threat to public health

Dec 8, 2014 10:17 GMT  ·  By

Yet another paper, this time one authored by researcher Susan C. Nagel with the University of Missouri and colleagues, and published in the journal Reviews on Environmental Health, points the finger at fracking as a threat to public health.

More precisely, the paper in question argues that chemicals released during unconventional oil and gas operations can cause men, women and children alike to experience serious health trouble. Simply put, it links such chemicals to reproductive and developmental issues.

Documenting the health threats posed by fracking chemicals

As part of their investigation into how the chemicals employed in directional drilling and hydraulic fracturing operations can affect public health, University of Missouri scientist Susan C. Nagel and fellow researchers reviewed the outcome of several dozen studies focusing on this issue.

Specifically, the scientists looked at the findings of well over 150 previous studies documenting how exposure to chemical compounds used in unconventional oil and gas activities can affect men, women and children living close to drilling and fracking sites.

It was thus discovered that drilling and fracking chemicals can trigger reproductive and developmental trouble in people. This find is especially worrying given the fact that, presently, some 15 million people in the US live within 1 mile (1.6 kilometers) of a drilling and fracking site.

“We examined more than 150 peer-reviewed studies reporting on the effects of chemicals used in UOG operations and found evidence to suggest there is cause for concern for human health,” researcher Susan C. Nagel said in a statement, as cited by EurekAlert.

“Further, we found that previous studies suggest that adult and early life exposure to chemicals associated with UOG [unconventional oil and gas] operations can result in adverse reproductive health and developmental defects in humans,” the University of Missouri specialist added.

What exactly did this investigation reveal?

Writing in the journal Reviews on Environmental Health, the scientists behind this research project detail that, according to evidence at hand, chemical compounds released during directional drilling and hydraulic fracturing cause water and air pollution.

In turn, this pollution need be linked to an increased risk of miscarriage, birth defects, and impaired fetal growth. Besides, the same chemicals appear to cause infertility, especially in men. Hence, they need be labeled a threat to public health and regulated as such.

Admittedly, it took over 150 studies to document these ways in which drilling and fracking chemicals can affect human health. Still, this does not means that Susan C. Nagel and fellow researchers were fishing for evidence against such activities while working on this study.

It just means that, for some reason, the health threats posed by drilling and hydraulic fracturing are yet to be thoroughly investigated. In light of their findings, the University of Missouri specialist and colleagues urge that further studies into the health impacts of pollution caused by such activities be carried out.

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