Fracking and Health: Ask an Expert

“Beneficial reuse” of produced water, a byproduct of oil and gas development, includes road spreading for dust suppression and deicing.

Dr. William Burgos, Professor in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at Penn State University, describes beneficial reuse of produced water focusing on dust suppression for roads. He addresses chemical contaminants, exposure pathways, and potential impacts on human and ecological health and includes suggestions to strengthen protections when reusing wastewater.

As fracking operations move closer to populated areas, communities are concerned about potential impacts on their health and safety.

Dr. Gregory Howard, environmental public health scientist and consultant, describes various health study designs with a focus on the goals and needs of the community and the decision makers they are trying to reach as well as the challenges of doing such research.

Industrial noise pollution is generated during development of an unconventional oil and gas well site.

Dr. Michael McCawley, Clinical Associate Professor in the Department of Occupational and Environmental Health at West Virginia University, discusses the adverse health impacts associated with stress from environmental noise exposure. He describes the factors contributing to noise levels during well pad development and how mitigation measures and setbacks may not effectively protect residents.

Industrial noise pollution is generated during development of an unconventional oil and gas well site.

Dr. Michael McCawley, Clinical Associate Professor in the Department of Occupational and Environmental Health at West Virginia University, discusses the adverse health impacts associated with stress from environmental noise exposure. He describes the factors contributing to noise levels during well pad development and how mitigation measures and setbacks may not effectively protect residents.

How one US state ran a successful campaign to ban fracking.

While many NGOs work to stop the spread of fracking on the local, state, and national levels, no “one size fits all” model exists that can be used in every campaign.

Brooke Harper, Maryland Policy Director at Chesapeake Climate Action Network, discusses the strategies used in Maryland to mobilize support to ban fracking in the state. She highlights the importance of building support at the local level, engaging non-traditional partners, and the most effective actions that contributed to their successful campaign.

While many NGOs have worked with communities to enact fracking bans, there has been less success on the state level.

Brooke Harper, Maryland Policy Director at Chesapeake Climate Action Network, discusses the strategies used in Maryland to mobilize support to ban fracking in the state. She highlights the importance of building support at the local level, engaging non-traditional partners, and the most effective actions that contributed to their successful campaign.