Environment & Energy
Related: About this forumToxic Chemicals, Carcinogens Skyrocket Near Fracking Sites
US News & World Report
Toxic Chemicals, Carcinogens Skyrocket Near Fracking Sites
The spikes almost certainly will lead to a cancer increase in surrounding areas, a study author says.
By Alan Neuhauser
Oct. 30, 2014
Oil and gas wells across the country are spewing dangerous" cancer-causing chemicals into the air, according to a new study that further corroborates reports of health problems around hydraulic fracturing sites.
This is a significant public health risk, says Dr. David Carpenter, director of the Institute for Health and the Environment at the University at Albany-State University of New York and lead author of the study, which was published Thursday in the journal Environmental Health. Cancer has a long latency, so youre not seeing an elevation in cancer in these communities. But five, 10, 15 years from now, elevation in cancer is almost certain to happen.
Eight poisonous chemicals were found near wells and fracking sites in Arkansas, Colorado, Pennsylvania, Ohio and Wyoming at levels that far exceeded recommended federal limits. Benzene, a carcinogen, was the most common, as was formaldehyde, which also has been linked to cancer. Hydrogen sulfide, which smells like rotten eggs and can affect the brain and upper-respiratory system, also was found.
I was amazed, Carpenter says. Five orders of magnitude over federal limits for benzene at one site thats just incredible. You could practically just light a match and have an explosion with that concentration....
MORE at http://www.usnews.com/news/articles/2014/10/30/toxic-chemicals-and-carcinogens-skyrocket-near-fracking-sites-study-says
theHandpuppet
(19,964 posts)Bloomberg News
Fracking Advocates Urged to Win Ugly by Discrediting Foes
By Mark Drajem October 30, 2014
Washington public relations guru had an uncompromising message for oil and gas drillers facing an anti-fracking backlash.
You can either win ugly or lose pretty. You figure out where you want to be, Rick Berman told the Western Energy Alliance, according to a recording. Hardball is something that Im a big fan of, applied appropriately.
Berman has gained prominence, including a 60 Minutes profile, for playing hardball with animal activists, labor unions and even Mothers Against Drunk Driving. In Colorado, he was offering to take on environmentalists pushing restrictions on hydraulic fracturing, or fracking...
...That partly explains why energy and resources companies, including Koch Industries Inc., Exxon Mobil Corp. (XOM:US) and Murray Energy Corp. are spending lavishly on political campaigns this year. The Center for Responsive Politics data shows the industry will contribute an amount second only to its record $143 million leading up to the 2012 election. So far they have given $95.5 million to candidates and political committees....
MORE at http://www.businessweek.com/news/2014-10-30/fracking-advocates-urged-to-win-ugly-by-discrediting-foes
hunter
(38,337 posts)Fracked gas is not in any way "natural."