DIRTY AIR FROM FRACKING

Study: 'Fracking' may increase air pollution health risks
Neela Bannerjee, March 20, 2012 (LA Times)

"Air pollution caused by hydraulic fracturing, a controversial oil and gas drilling method, may contribute to “acute and chronic health problems for those living near natural gas drilling sites,” according to a new study from the Colorado School of Public Health…based on three years of monitoring…

"…[Researchers] found a number of ‘potentially toxic petroleum hydrocarbons in the air near the wells including benzene [a known carcinogen], ethylbenzene, toluene and xylene.’…[T]he report said that those living within a half-mile of a natural gas drilling site faced greater health risks than those who live farther away. Colorado allows companies to drill for natural gas within 150 feet of homes."

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"Hydraulic fracturing, or fracking, involves injecting great volumes of water and sand laced with chemicals into shale formations to break apart the rock and unlock reservoirs of oil and gas. Its advocates say it carries minimal environmental risks and the chance of great economic rewards for companies and communities. Its critics have largely focused so far on fracking’s possible contamination of underground and surface water.

"…[A fracked well is like] a small factory...rapidly erected at the drilling site, as machinery and tanks of chemicals and water are brought in… [E]arlier research [showed that air pollution at such sites is greater than in surrounding areas and] that prolonged exposure to petroleum hydrocarbons in the air near refineries, oil spills and petrol stations pointed to…[diverse maladies including] headaches, asthma symptoms, acute childhood leukemia, acute myelogenous leukemia, and multiple myeloma…[T]he EPA is finalizing new rules to curtail air pollution at oil and gas drilling sites. A recent Bloomberg News poll suggested a majority of Americans would like to see tighter regulation of fracking…"