Shale gas fracking a low risk to public health, review finds
By Kate Kelland
LONDON | Thu Oct 31, 2013 12:29pm GMT
uk.reuters.com
(Reuters) - The risks to public health from exposure to emissions from shale gas extraction or fracking are low as long as operations are properly run and regulated, the British government's health agency said on Thursday.
In a review of the potential health impact of fracking, which involves the pumping of water and chemicals into dense shale formations to push out gas and oil, Public Health England (PHE) said any health impacts were likely to be minimal.
Since there is currently no fracking in Britain, the PHE report examined evidence from countries such as the United States, most of which it said suggested any risk to health is typically due to operational failure...
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Press release
Shale gas extraction emissions are a ‘low’ risk to public health
gov.uk
Organisation: Public Health England
Page history: Published 31 October 2013
Policy: Planning for health emergencies
Topics: Public health+ 2 others
The risks to public health from exposure to emissions from shale gas extraction are low if operations are properly run and regulated, according to a PHE report.
The report published today (31 October) reviews the potential health impacts of shale gas extraction.
This review of the scientific literature focusses on the potential impact of chemicals and radioactive material from all stages of shale gas extraction, including the fracturing (fracking) of shale.
As there is no commercial shale gas extraction in the UK, the draft report looks at information from countries where it is taking place.
Dr John Harrison, Director of PHE’s Centre for Radiation, Chemical and Environmental Hazards, said:
The currently available evidence indicates that the potential risks to public health from exposure to emissions associated with the shale gas extraction process are low if operations are properly run and regulated.
Where potential risks have been identified in other countries, the reported problems are typically due to operational failure.
Good on-site management and appropriate regulation of all aspects of exploratory drilling, gas capture as well as the use and storage of fracking fluid is essential to minimise the risks to the environment and health.
Most evidence from other countries suggests that any contamination of groundwater, if it occurs, is likely to be caused by leakage through the vertical borehole. Therefore good well construction and maintenance is essential to reduce the risks of ground water contamination.
Contamination of groundwater from the underground fracking process itself is unlikely because of the depth at which it occurs...
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Air, water, radon, wastewater. All studied, all found low risk by UK Department of Health.
Copy of the report hpa.org.uk 46 pages
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Meanwhile in New York:
Jan 30, 2013
lohud.com 
ALBANY — New York Health Commissioner Nirav Shah broke his silence on the state’s review of the health impacts of hydraulic fracturing, telling lawmakers Wednesday that he anticipates completing the analysis in “the next few weeks...”
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Why has New York Health Commissioner Nirav Shah taken so long to finish his report? Could it
be that Gov. Mario Cuomo doesn't want the report to come out because it would force a decision which
would hurt his presidential primary chances? |
