Fracking's Impact on Water Contamination and Infant Health Investigated in New Study
In a groundbreaking study, researchers Elaine Hill and Lala Ma have provided evidence that the development of shale gas, commonly known as fracking, could be compromising public drinking water quality and negatively impacting infant health.
The study, published in the Journal of Health Economics, examines the geographic expansion of shale gas drilling in Pennsylvania from 2006 to 2015, during which more than 19,000 wells were established. Hill, an associate professor with the University of Rochester Departments of Public Health Sciences, Economics, and Obstetrics & Gynecology, and Ma, with the University of Kentucky, mapped the location of each new well in relation to groundwater sources that supply public drinking water.
The findings indicate that drilling near an infant's public water source yields poorer birth outcomes and more fracking-related contaminants in public drinking water. Specifically, every new well drilled within one kilometer of a public drinking water source was associated with an 11-13 percent increase in the incidence of preterm births and low birth weight in infants exposed during gestation.
Fracking-related chemicals, including dangerous volatile organic compounds, are making their way into groundwater that feeds municipal water systems. The potential for contamination is greatest during the pre-production period when a new well is established. However, only 29 out of more than 1,100 shale gas contaminants are regulated in drinking water, suggesting that the true contamination level is higher.
The research links shale gas development to drinking water quality and supports the re-evaluation of existing drinking water policies and possibly the regulation of the shale gas industry. The study documents the negative impact of shale gas development on infant health, with preterm birth and low birth weight associated with a range of negative outcomes, including higher risk for developing behavioral and social-emotional problems, and learning difficulties.
The study also examines the association between shale gas development and reproductive health, and the subsequent impact on later educational attainment, higher risk of childhood asthma exacerbation, higher risk of heart attacks, and opioid deaths.
The research was supported with funding from the University of Rochester Medical Center Department of Environmental Sciences and the National Institutes of Health (DP5OD021338). The study results are referenced by Helmholtz Climate Initiative in their publication on planetary boundaries, further emphasizing the need for increased regulation and environmental protection in the shale gas industry.
This new paper adds to the growing body of evidence suggesting that the social costs of water pollution generated by an emerging industry with little environmental regulation could be substantial. It underscores the importance of rigorous scientific research and policy-making to protect public health and the environment.
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