Fracking results in toxic & hazardous pollution

From an ABSTRACT by Katherine E. Pelch, Environmental Heath Journal, 2018

Background— In the last decade unconventional oil and gas (UOG) extraction has rapidly proliferated throughout the United States (US) and the world. This occurred largely because of the development of directional drilling and hydraulic fracturing which allows access to fossil fuels from geologic formations that were previously not cost effective to pursue. This process is known to use greater than 1,000 chemicals such as solvents, surfactants, detergents, and biocides. In addition, a complex mixture of chemicals, including heavy metals, naturally-occurring radioactive chemicals, and organic compounds are released from the formations and can enter air and water. Compounds associated with UOG activity have been linked to adverse reproductive and developmental outcomes in humans and laboratory animal models, which is possibly due to the presence of endocrine active chemicals.

Methods— Using systematic methods, electronic searches of PubMed and Web of Science were conducted to identify studies that measured chemicals in air near sites of UOG activity. Records were screened by title and abstract, relevant articles then underwent full text review, and data were extracted from the studies. A list of chemicals detected near UOG sites was generated. Then, the potential endocrine activity of the most frequently detected chemicals was explored via searches of literature from PubMed.

Results — Evaluation of 48 studies that sampled air near sites of UOG activity identified 106 chemicals detected in two or more studies. Ethane, benzene and n-pentane were the top three most frequently detected. Twenty-one chemicals have been shown to have endocrine activity including estrogenic and androgenic activity and the ability to alter steroidogenesis. Literature also suggested that some of the air pollutants may affect reproduction, development, and neurophysiological function, all endpoints which can be modulated by hormones. These chemicals included aromatics (i.e., benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and xylene), several polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, and mercury.

Conclusion — These results provide a basis for prioritizing future primary studies regarding the endocrine disrupting properties of UOG air pollutants, including exposure research in wildlife and humans. Further, we recommend systematic reviews of the health impacts of exposure to specific chemicals, and comprehensive environmental sampling of a broader array of chemicals.

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See also: The Endocrine Disrupter Exchange, TEDX

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See also: The Science of Fracking and Health Webinar Series w/Dr. Chris Kassotis – YouTube, September 4, 2018

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West Virginia Environmental Council

ACTION ALERT for JUNE 10th

CALL TO ACTION:
Fayette County’s Frack Waste Ban is Being Challenged in Court

<<<< UPDATE: The Fayette County injection well ban appeal hearing is now at 2:00 p.m. in the Robert C. Byrd Federal Courthouse on Virginia St. Please adjust your schedules accordingly. >>>

This Friday, June 10th at 10am, the Fayette County Commission’s historic ban on oil and gas waste disposal is being challenged by EQT Corporation.

EQT is seeking a permanent Injunction against the ordinance to make these kind of county-wide bans unenforceable. We will be doing our best to make sure our ordinance stands, to set a precedent in Fayette County that will uphold other county’s rights to enact similar ordinances. But we need your help!

If you are available, please attend the court date! It will be heard in front of John T Copenhaver at 10 am Friday, June 10th at the Southern District Court of West Virginia (300 Virginia St E. Charleston, WV 25301). Note: You will also need a valid state-issued photo ID in order to enter the courthouse.

If you choose to attend, WEAR BLACK. All the attendees will be showing their support and collective mourning of the damage done to our water and health by showing up in all black attire.

For the water, land, and people, we are part of Headwaters Defense.

We hope you’ll consider joining Headwaters Defense this Friday as they fight to uphold their frack waste ban in Fayette County!

>>> Web-Site for the WV Environmental Council is:

>>> http://wvecouncil.org