Enthusiastic gas-drilling advocates in the state Legislature long have fallen over themselves in their hast to get out of the industry’s way.
Their zeal, for most of two decades, included a prohibition on using public money to conduct any studies on the industry’s public health impact.
Gov. Tom Wolf finally commissioned a $2.5 million study in 2019 by public health researchers from the University of Pittsburgh.
Their recently released results demonstrate why the pro-industry lawmakers resisted such analyses.
It is extremely difficult to tie any particular disease in an individual or a group to any particular environmental factor, even when many people in close proximity suffer the same ill health effects.
This study was not designed to do that.
Rather, it examined the incidence of certain diseases within certain distances of active gas wells, and compared them with incidence of the same diseases where drilling is not an issue.
It found that people of all ages living near wells in heavily drilled areas of Western Pennsylvania experienced higher rates of severe asthma than those elsewhere, and that children in those areas were more likely to develop a form of lymphoma that otherwise is rare among children.
The Pennsylvania study follows others of drilling fields elsewhere in the United States that found higher rates of asthma, some cancers, low birth weights and more among people who live close to drilling operations.
Edward Keyter, a retired pediatrician and a member of the study’s advisory board, told the Associated Press that the asthma finding is a “bombshell.”
And he asked a question that should be directed at lawmakers wearing their pro-drilling blinders: “Why is anyone surprised about that?”
Since the drilling boom began in Pennsylvania between 2005 and 2010, the state government has played a game of catch-up, long hindered by lawmakers who refused to conduct studies relative to public health.
With information from the new study in hand, the Shapiro administration and lawmakers should ensure the strongest possible regulations are in place to protect public health from the inevitable impact of heavy industry on a massive scale.
NewsClips - Health Studies:
-- The Center Square: Natural Gas Well Setbacks May Not Be Protective Enough After Health Impact Study Results
-- Post-Gazette: Processing Research On Southwestern PA Natural Gas Development And Health, Residents Seek Answers Together: ‘We Deserve Better’
-- TribLive: Environmental Advocates Weight In On State Dept. Of Health, Pitt Study Of Natural Gas Development Health Impacts
-- MCall Guest Essay: The Shift To Green Energy Should Protect Families Who Work In Fossil Fuel Industry - By Reba Elliott, Catholic Laudato Si’ Movement Protecting God’s Creation
Related Articles - Health Studies:
-- University Of Pittsburgh School Of Public Health Studies Find Shale Gas Wells Can Make Asthma Worse; Children Have An Increased Chance Of Developing Lymphoma Cancer; Slightly Lower Birth Weights [PaEN]
-- Post-Gazette Editorial: Who Pays For Natural Gas Development’s Harm? Pennsylvania Should Acknowledge The Clear Fact That Fracking Has Hurt People, Specifically Children [PaEN]
NewsClips This Week:
-- The Derrick - Makayla Keating: DEP Cites Petro Erie With 5 Additional Violations [For More Leaking Conventional Oil Well Wastewater Tanks In Sugarcreek Boro, Venango County, Near Contaminated Reno Water Supply] [PDF of article]
-- The Derrick - Letter To Editor: Disappointed In Lack Of Involvement In Sen. Hutchinson, Rep. James To Resolve Village Of Reno Water Contamination Issue In Venango County [Polluted By Conventional Oil Well Wastewater Spill] [PDF of Article]
-- TribLive: DEP Examining ‘Pinhole Leak’ In A Penneco Natural Gas Gathering Line Behind Homes That Exploded In Plum Boro, Allegheny County [PUC, DEP Have No Statutory Authority To Regulate Safety Of Gathering Pipelines]
-- Inquirer - Frank Kummer: LNG Natural Gas Export Facility Proposed In Chester Draws Pushback: ‘We Suffer For Everybody Else’s Comfort’
-- The Center Square - Anthony Hennen: ‘We Suffer For Everybody’s Else’s Comfort’ Critics Of LNG Natural Gas Export Hub Say
-- PA Capital-Star: Advocates Vow To Fight LNG Natural Gas Export Facility In Delaware County’s Poorest Community
-- Pittsburgh Business Times: Business Advocates: Lack Of PA Permitting Reform Is Costing Jobs
-- City & State PA: Business Leaders, Lawmakers Hope For Bipartisan Action On Permitting Reform
-- Inside Climate News - Jon Hurdle: Appalachian Economy Sees Few Gains From Natural Gas Development, Report Says
Related Articles This Week:
-- Lawsuit Filed Against General Assembly, Governor Challenges Constitutionality Of Law Preventing DEP From Protecting Public Health, Environment From Harm Caused By Abandoning Conventional Oil & Gas Wells [PaEN]
-- 150+ Residents Of Chester Opposed To An LNG Natural Gas Export Facility Proposed In Their Community Let Their Feelings Be Known To The House Philadelphia LNG Export Task Force [PaEN]
-- Republican Herald Editorial: Health Depends On Regulation Of Oil & Gas Development [PaEN]
-- TribLive Editorial: Studies Of Natural Gas Development Point To Health Costs
-- Petro Erie, Inc. Appeals DEP’s July Field Order To Clean Up Conventional Oil Well Wastewater Spill Contaminating Village Of Reno’s Water Supply In Venango County; 2nd Appeal May Be Coming [PaEN]
-- Republican Rep. Krupa To Introduce Bill To Ban Oil, Gas Wastewater Injection Wells To Protect The Public From Radioactive, Toxic Materials [PaEN]
-- On Demand: ReImagine Appalachia Faith In Action: Environmental Justice For All - Ensuring Equity And Benefits Across Our Most Climate-Impacted Communities [PaEN]
[Posted: August 22, 2023] PA Environment Digest
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