Does Fracking Cause Health Problems?

With concerns about minor earthquakes, destruction of the country and the environmental impact of transporting huge amounts of water, it’s fair to say fracking is a controversial practice. However, health problems might be next on the list of ‘cons’ for fracking. A new study into the effect on nearby residents, in areas where fracking already takes place, has some interesting evidence on the matter.

Opposition

In the United States, fracking has been ongoing since 1949. It now contributes 67% of their natural gas supply and 43% of their total oil production – despite the majority of Americans opposing the process. What is it? Simply put, fracking is fracturing the layer of rock underground, by shooting pressurised fluid down into deep wells. The resulting cracks bring out natural gas and oil for energy production. Whilst fracking has not begun in the UK yet, a look at the residents of nearby communities in the US can give an insight into the potential health risks.

This was the thinking of researchers at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. They investigated the link between fracking and a range of illnesses, by sending a questionnaire to nearly 24,000 clinic patients located around Pennsylvania. With information about each participant’s location and distance to nearby fracking wells as well as the fracking phase, depth and gas production, they were able to link the responses to a set of variables.

Results

A response rate of 33% meant there were just under 8,000 participants. Here are the findings:

• 25% experienced higher levels of fatigue
  Compared to a 7-45% national average
• 24% suffered from Chronic Rhinosinusitis – a sinus infection that causes irregular mucus discharge, nasal congestion, facial pain and loss of smell
  Compared to a 2-16% national average
• 23% had migraine problems
  Compared to an 11-14% national average

Using the participant location information, the researchers were also able to produce a set of results for those closest to the fracking activity. The likelihood of those participants developing combinations of two or more of the illnesses was found to be considerably higher.

The other side

There seems to be overwhelming opposition to fracking. This evidence of related illnesses adds to the list of reasons people are against it. However, Chris Faulkner, CEO of the Breitling Energy Corporation, seems to think scientific misunderstandings are leading to the opposition. He gives his thoughts on the process in ‘Is Fracking the Way Forward? An Interview with Chris Faulkner’.