Medical Education Series on Shale Gas Development

by Duane Nichols on August 9, 2013

Dr. David R. Brown, Sc. D., Toxicologist

Continuing Medical Education Series on Shale Gas Development

Physicians, Scientists & Engineers for Healthy Energy, PSEhealthyenergy.org, August 2013

High-volume hydraulic fracturing (HVHF) of shale is a relatively new method of natural gas extraction, emerging only recently over the past decade. The medical community’s experience concerning the potential acute and chronic medical effects, injuries, and disabilities is therefore limited. This results in professional practice gaps concerning the diagnosis and management of diverse toxicological effects and illnesses, and in competencies related to obtaining toxicological history and physical exams of patients. Additional gaps exist in the competent performance of risk communication and public health education for individuals and communities.

This series of online educational modules has been developed, prepared, and implemented by Physicians Scientists and Engineers for Healthy Energy (PSE). You can access this Veomed platform to obtain AMA PRA Category 1 credit™ and for the highest quality viewing. While anyone can view these courses for free on VeoMed, you must register to do so. Alternatively, the videos can be accessed on Youtube.

Click here to watch the lectures and complete courses for CME credit.

Lectures can also be accessed on PSE’s YouTube page (i.e., not for CME credit):

1: Introduction to Shale Gas Extraction

Anthony Ingraffea, PhD, PE

2: Potential Health Impacts of Natural Gas Extraction

Jerome Paulson, MD

3: Impacts of Drilling on Human and Animal Health

Michelle Bamberger, DVM, MS & Robert Oswald, PhD

4: Fundamental Chemical Toxicology with Exposure Related to Shale Gas Development

David Brown, ScD

5: Endocrine Disruption Chemicals

Adam Law, MD

6: Patient Evaluation

Denise DeJohn, RN, MSN, CRNP

Additional Resources

The Southwest Pennsylvania Environmental Health Project (SWPA-EHP) has published a Medical Toolkit for medical professionals. The Toolkit consists of a series of interactive workshops focused on addressing patient concerns and symptoms related to gas extraction activities.

- See more at: http://www.psehealthyenergy.org/site/view/1052#sthash.Uz8j6u2u.dpuf

{ 1 comment… read it below or add one }

R. Scott Mick August 9, 2013 at 2:54 pm

Understanding the large formational exposure or [Pay zone] targeted via horizontal drilling methods, this seems like the buggy is in front of the horse. Economics mean little by comparison to health and environmental effects.

These much larger wells produce flow-back and large amounts of organics, etc. that don’t seem to be an exact science or understood in a complete way. This is not to mention the reaction between these shale formations and the chemical cocktails/water under extreme pressures used in stimulation.

With this in mind I would like to see a better understanding rather than impulsive choices made under economic promise.

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