Prof. Bernard Goldstein

Pittsburgh, April 29, 2013– Residents living near unconventional natural gas developments using hydraulic fracturing, known by the slang term “fracking,” attribute several dozen health concerns and stressors to the Marcellus Shale developments in their area, according to a long-term analysis by University of Pittsburgh Graduate School of Public Health researchers.

Reported health impacts persist and increase over time, even after the initial drilling activity subsides, they noted. The study, which will be published in the May issue of the International Journal of Occupational and Environmental Health, did not include clinical examinations of the participants’ physical health or any environmental tests. Researchers surveyed those who believe their health has been affected by hydraulic fracturing activities for self-reported symptoms and stressors. The most commonly cited concern was stress, which 76 percent of participants said they’d experienced. Among the leading causes of stress reported by the participants were feelings of being taken advantage of, having their concerns and complaints ignored, and being denied information or misled.

“Many of these stressors can be addressed immediately by the gas drilling industry and by government,” said senior author Bernard Goldstein, M.D., emeritus professor and former dean of Pitt Public Health.

“Scientific literature shows that if people do not trust companies doing work in their communities, or believe that the government is misleading them, there is a heightened perception of risk,” said Dr. Goldstein, also a member of the National Academies’ committees to investigate shale gas drilling in the U.S. and Canada. “Community disruption and psychosocial stress have been well-documented as a result of environmental issues like oil spills and superfund sites. A strong response by the Pennsylvania Department of Health to address concerns about health impacts of hydrofracturing could reduce observed stress and resulting symptoms.”

From May through October 2010, members of Pitt Public Health’s Center for Healthy Environments and Communities conducted in-depth interviews with 33 people concerned about fracking in their communities. Three- quarters of the residents resided in five of the seven most heavily drilled counties in Pennsylvania.

Follow-up interviews were conducted from January through April 2012 and included 20 of the initial 33 participants. The remainder could not be reached or declined to participate.

“Our study shows that perceptions of health may be affected by fracking regardless of whether this health impact is due to direct exposure to chemical and physical agents resulting from drilling or to the psychosocial stressors of living near drilling activity,” said lead author Kyle Ferrar, M.P.H., a doctoral student at Pitt Public Health. “Comprehensive epidemiological studies of all potential adverse consequences of fracking need to be performed, and they should include a close look at psychosocial symptoms, including stress, which cause very real health complications.”

Participants reported 59 unique health issues that they attributed to Marcellus Shale development. In addition to stress, these perceived health issues included rashes, headaches, shortness of breath, nausea and sore throats.

“Exposure-based epidemiological studies are needed to address identified health impacts and those that may develop as fracking continues,” said Mr. Ferrar.

Additional co-authors include Jill Kriesky, Ph.D.; Charles Christen, Dr.P.H.; Lynne Marshall; Samantha Malone, M.P.H., C.P.H.; Ravi Sharma, Ph.D.; and Drew Michanowicz, M.P.H., C.P.H., all of Pitt Public Health.

See also: www.FrackCheckWV.net

Conrad Volz promoting FracTracker

Last year, the development of the FracTracker database for Marcellus shale gas production activities was progressing rapidly, under the leadership of Professor Conrad Volz, in the Center for Healthy Environments and Communities (CHEC) within the School of Public Health at the University of Pittsburgh.  Then, Professor Volz became an open critic of hydrofracking because it can contaminate drinking water.  He was forced to resign after becoming involved in a couple of disagreements over data interpretation.   His replacement, Professor Bernard Goldstein has also been a strong advocate for environmental regulation of hydrofracking for the protection of the public health.

Now the Heinz Endowment is withdrawing financial support for the FracTracker program at Pitt; and, Professor Goldstein is resigning. He is a former dean of Pitt’s Graduate School of Public Health; and, he said Heinz’s decision was a factor in his resignation, but not the only one. He said he had already planned on retiring from teaching at the end of September.  “My point is, in academia we’re really much better at developing things. Our strength is not in maintaining things over the long term,” he said.

Energy companies have identified major reserves of natural gas in Marcellus shale, a formation that lies under much of New York and Pennsylvania, and parts of Maryland, Ohio and West Virginia. Drilling in the shale has raised concerns about the use of hydraulic fracturing, or fracking, which injects chemical-laced water to break up the shale and allow natural gas to escape.  Environmental groups and the Environmental Protection Agency have expressed concerns about how the process affects water, soil and air quality. The industry insists it is safe, or to the extent there are adverse impacts that it is worth the risks.

The University of Pittsburgh and the Center for Healthy Environments and Communities (CHEC) will continue to research natural gas and its impacts on public health, although the funding sources are not yet secured. Bruce Pitt, chair of the Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, will be CHEC’s new interim director.