[P2P-F] Fwd: ZNet Commentary: Lauren McCauley: Research Shows Frightening Correlation Between Fracking and Rates of Illness

[Michel Bauwens]

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From: ZCommunications <no-reply at zcomm.org>
Date: Fri, Sep 12, 2014 at 8:24 PM
Subject: ZNet Commentary: Lauren McCauley: Research Shows Frightening
Correlation Between Fracking and Rates of Illness
To: michelsub2004 at gmail.com


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Lauren McCauley: Research Shows Frightening Correlation Between Fracking
and Rates of IllnessZ Communications Daily Commentary

People who live in close proximity to natural gas drilling sites are
significantly more likely to report skin and respiratory problems than
those who live further away, according to the largest survey to-date of the
reported health effects of people exposed to fracking.

The study, “*Proximity to Natural Gas Wells and Reported Health Status
<http://send.zcomm.org/wf/click?upn=9PHos1J7-2FD2Lw6jereECeNLGs3ocss1O2kcgD4VkZGxNQKyMz3VkxHcbWOxm-2F-2FK4zNQOFozl5YCGVxHlRDfLMcfNa4rH0I-2F5HhtGRK7h4DjT-2BJ-2FUcJWi-2F-2FtqxyhvUfXmhaGoborwbcy0AEEX7332LDy05C3Mky53A1eSN7mUvfA-3D_V-2FUUiW5KvBPNV-2FItFYsbuIFOqr58NacNTIV3-2FGcH-2BSBzs-2Bne7v4-2BL-2FXME9pG0SuhMI7hm1cQQ2Q6DMAFNS5oHX4c0NHWUzBsHWa9KGNovXXg7IH9L83YMTuTycxHde0pxtH7ncUGT6hsc7OB3gPo746iIY7Fiztf2OZUoY4SAtzXp3vpR43WqtmaMxvJhL8LXpyJWjx0c4X0V9C930-2Fp-2BA-3D-3D>*,”(pdf)
published Wednesday in the journal *Environmental Health Perspectives*
surveyed households with ground-fed water wells located in the Marcellus
shale region in southwestern Pennsylvania.

Researchers found that 39 percent of households located less than one
kilometer from an active natural gas well reported upper respiratory
problems, compared with 18 percent located more than 2 kilometers away.
Further, 13 percent of respondents who live within a kilometer of a well
said they had rashes and other skin irritations, compared with just 3
percent who live more than 2 kilometers away.

Of the 624 active natural gas wells located in Pennsylvania’s Washington
County, 95 percent were fracked — or injected with millions of gallons of
water, sand, and a largely-unknown toxic mix of chemicals in order to
extract gas from the shale deposits.

Despite assurances by the drilling industry and numerous government
officials that fracking chemicals do not pose a risk to nearby populations,
scientists and environmentalists have repeatedly voiced concern over the
high volume of chemicals used in the process and the potential for both
groundwater and airborne contamination. Further, the drilling industry has
long-fought efforts to reveal the particular chemicals used in fracking,
claiming that the combination of toxins fall under “proprietary
information.”

The Yale-based research team notes that they did not collect data on
whether individuals were receiving financial compensation for gas well
drilling on their property, which they acknowledge “could have affected
their willingness to report symptoms.”

Based on the findings of the survey, the researchers conclude that
“airborne irritant exposures” related to natural gas extraction activities,
including the flaring of gas wells and exhaust from diesel equipment,
“could be playing a role” in the increased reporting of respiratory
symptoms among people living in close proximity to the wells.

Possible explanations for the increase in reported skin irritations also
include exposure to air pollutants, as well as possible well water
contamination due to “breaks in the gas well casing or other underground
communication between ground water supplies and fracking activities.”

Because of the relative newness of the wells (5-6 years), the researchers
were unable to test for a correlation between drilling activities and more
long-term health impacts, such as cancer. However, the team says that their
findings underscores the need for further research on the possible health
impacts of fracking activities, including longitudinal studies on
chronically exposed populations.



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