Fracking

Used extensively in the U.S., fracking has led to heightened concerns about its impact on the environment and human health. The process creates vast amounts of wastewater, emits greenhouse gases such as methane, releases toxic air pollutants and generates noise. Studies have shown these gas and oil operations can lead to loss of animal and plant habitats, species decline, migratory disruptions and land degradation. They have also been associated with human health risks. Studies have reported associations between residential proximity to these operations and increased adverse pregnancy outcomes, cancer incidence, hospitalizations and asthma. Some fracking-related operations have been located near lower-resourced communities, worsening their cumulative burden of environmental and social injustices.

Featured YSPH Involvement

The Deziel Exposure Science Lab is conducting the Ohio Water and Air Quality Study, in which they are collecting and analyzing water and air samples as well as administering health questionnaires in communities with natural gas extraction. Their goal is to fill gaps in research and data to better understand whether people living close to unconventional wells have higher concentrations of environmental pollutants in their air or water compared to those living farther away, and whether there is a link between proximity to unconventional development or environmental chemicals and health problems.