Fracking Linked to Migraine Headaches, Severe Fatigue, Chronic Sinus and Nasal Symptoms, Study Finds

Fracking has expanded — outpacing scientific understanding of its potential health risks and impacts.  Nevertheless, there’s a lack of studies relating to health outcomes for people living in close proximity of hydraulic fracturing, or fracking well sites.

John Hopkins researchers recently initiated a study to find out more about the impact of fracking on human health.  As a result, their research adds to the growing evidence of a link between fracking and health problems.

Fracking Industry Linked to Health Problems

Hydraulic fracturing involves injecting millions of liters of water into deep rock formations to free up natural gas or petroleum. Energy companies moved toward fracking in the early 2000s when natural gas prices were high and supplies were low.

In addition, hydraulic fracturing represents an increasing share of energy production worldwide. Currently, shale gas extraction equate to 40 percent of U.S. domestic natural gas production.

According to John Hopkins researchers, unconventional natural gas development — like fracking — produces environmental contaminants and psychosocial stressors.  Even so, a rapid increase in fracking has occurred in Pennsylvania.  More than 8,800 fracking wells have been drilled in Pennsylvania in the past ten years.

In recent years, fracking has expanded rapidly in other states, as well — including Ohio, Wyoming, North Dakota, Colorado, and West Virginia.

A team of researchers from Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health initiated a study to look further into the impact of fracking on Pennsylvania residents’ health.  Their findings suggest that Pennsylvania residents with the highest exposure to active natural gas are almost twice as likely to suffer from a combination of health problems.  These health problems include: severe fatigue, migraine headaches, and chronic sinus and nasal symptoms.

The study’s first author, Aaron W. Tustin, a resident physician in the Department of Environmental Health Sciences at the Bloomberg School, comments on their findings.

“These three health conditions can have debilitating impacts on people’s lives.  In addition, they cost the health care system a lot of money. Our data suggest these symptoms are associated with proximity to the fracking industry.”

Study Results

In this study, Tustin and his colleagues created a questionnaire and received responses from 7,785 adult primary care patients of the Geisinger Health System.  Geisinger Health System is a health care provider that covers 40 counties in north and central Pennsylvania.

Between April and October 2014, participants returned the questionnaires to the researchers for analysis. The team of researchers found that 1,765 respondents suffered from migraines; 1,930 people experienced severe fatigue.  In addition, 1,850 had current symptoms of chronic rhinosinusitis — three or more months of nasal and sinus symptoms.

Health Conditions and Exposure to Wells

The researchers used publicly available well data to estimate the study participants’ exposure to the fracking industry. Their models accounted for the size and number of wells, as well as the distance between wells and people’s homes.

No single health condition was associated with proximity to active wells.  However, participants who met criteria for two or more of the health conditions were about twice as likely to live closer to more, or larger wells.

Previous research conducted by the study’s senior author, Brian S. Schwartz, a professor in the Department of Environmental Health Sciences at the Bloomberg School, has linked the fracking industry to increases in indoor radon concentrations, asthma attacks, and premature births.

Schwartz notes the need for more research and protection.

“We don’t know specifically why people in close proximity to these larger wells are more likely to be sick.  We need to find a way to better understand the correlation and, hopefully, do something to protect the health of these people.”

This study titled, “Associations between Unconventional Natural Gas Development and Nasal and Sinus, Migraine Headache, and Fatigue Symptoms in Pennsylvania,” is in the journal Environmental Health Perspectives.

Fracking Linked to Migraine Headaches, Severe Fatigue, Chronic Sinus and Nasal Symptoms, Study Finds

Radiation From Fracking? No Problemo

Whilst numerous environmental troubles whirl around the drilling process known as hydraulic fracturing, or fracking, at least we do not have to be concerned about radiation.

In the most thorough research of the topic ever carried out, the Pennsylvania Division of Environmental Safety found that there is no concern of radiation publicity from fracking wells for oil or fuel (PA DEP Information Release).

Released final week, the Technologically-Enhanced Naturally-Happening Radioactive Materials, or TENORM, review, analyzed the amounts of radioactivity related with oil and fuel development in Pennsylvania, particularly fracking. PA DEP Deputy Secretary Vince Brisini said the study concluded there is tiny prospective for harm to workers or the public from radiation publicity from fracking for either oil or gas.

Only a few samples analyzed in the study were identified with radiation levels above that of potato chips, which have the highest radioactivity of all food items.

Rocks, sediments and sands incorporate naturally taking place radioactive resources (NORM) such as uranium, thorium, potassium-forty, carbon-14 and tritium (H-3) as well as their daughter items (see figure at end of publish), particularly radon (Rn) and radium (Ra).

Figure one. Different actions concerned in normal gas drilling, storage and transportation. Naturally-Occurring Radioactive Components (NORM) can be encountered, and concentrated at every of these measures. But a recent research by the Pennsylvania Division of Environmental Safety discovered that there is no concern of radiation exposure from the entire cycle of fracking wells for oil or gas. Supply: Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Safety

TENORM is made when activities this kind of as mining, sewage treatment method, de-watering or drilling, focus these radioactive materials to increased ranges than arise naturally. Particularly crucial is the decay item Ra whose half-life and radioactivity are in just the proper selection to make it a problem. Ra also acts like calcium (Ca) and precipitates as carbonate scale in pipes.

Pennsylvania Governor Tom Corbett referred to as for this radiological research two many years in the past, at a time when PA DEP began learning radioactivity ranges in other components of the fracking and drilling method – flowback waters, remedy solids, drill cuttings and drilling wastes.

PA DEP was also learning radon ranges in the all-natural gasoline itself.

PA DEP had begun similar scientific studies more than twenty years ago (PA DEP 1991 NORM Examine). Despite the fact that these research have been not as in depth, the end result were similar.

This current peer-reviewed review concludes that there is minor possible for publicity to radioactivity for the basic public from all fracking pursuits, including every thing from the growth to the storage and the end use of the natural gas (see Figure 1).

In specific, the TENORM study concluded that:

- There is small possible for additional radon publicity to the public due to the use of all-natural gas extracted from geologic formations situated in Pennsylvania.

- There is tiny or restricted possible for radiation exposure to the public and workers from the advancement, completion, production, transmission, processing, storage, and finish use of natural fuel. There are, nevertheless, possible radiological environmental impacts from fluids if spilled. Radium ought to be extra to the Pennsylvania spill protocol to make certain cleanups are adequately characterized. There are also website-distinct conditions and situations in which the use of individual protective equipment by staff or other controls need to be evaluated.

- There is little likely for radiation publicity to workers and the public at facilities that treat oil and fuel wastes. Even so, there are potential radiological environmental impacts that should be studied at all facilities in Pennsylvania that treat wastes to determine if any places need remediation. If elevated radiological impacts are located, the development of radiological discharge limitations and spill policies must be deemed.

– There is tiny potential for radiation exposure to the public and workers from landfills receiving waste from the oil and gasoline industry. Nevertheless, filter cake from facilities treating wastes could have a radiological environmental effect if spilled, and there is also a likely lengthy-phrase disposal situation. TENORM disposal protocols should be reviewed to make sure the security of long-phrase disposal of waste containing TENORM.

- Whilst constrained prospective was located for radiation publicity to recreationists utilizing roads taken care of with brine from typical normal gas wells, further review of radiological environmental impacts from the use of brine from the oil and fuel industry for dust suppression and road stabilization should be carried out.

It ought to be pointed out that these study results most likely apply to all fracking and drilling activities across the United States because Pennsylvania has some of the most radioactive supply rocks in the nation.

You may possibly remember that every time radioactive emissions come up in discussions of nuclear electrical power, someone usually factors out that the mining, drilling and burning of fossil fuels emit significantly more radiation in complete than nuclear power does.

And that’s accurate.

Because ore deposits, fuel deposits, coal and oil have a tendency to have and focus NORM to various degrees, especially in unconventional deposits like tar sands, oil shales and gas shales, making use of these resources in our lives has increased radiation amounts significantly more than nuclear power has.

But the two are so minimal that there is no explanation to be worried at all (Nukes In My Backyard), a previous understanding borne out by this research.

“Whilst the recommendations for long term actions contained in the report contact for extra studies and efforts, we now have data to inform management of all-natural fuel resources and resultant wastes for environmental and wellness safety,” Vince Brisini said.

With 15 million Americans residing within a mile from a fracking well, this is an critical end result. Now the identical research have to be completed for carcinogenic volatile organic compounds this kind of as benzene and the xylenes.

The radioactive decay series of uranium and thorium, the two most critical Naturally-Occurring Radioactive Supplies (NORM) that, if concentrated by mining, sewage treatment, de-watering or drilling routines can concentrate these radioactive resources to larger levels. Rocks, sediments and sands incorporate NORM such as uranium, thorium, potassium-forty, carbon-14 and tritium (H-3) as properly as their daughter merchandise, specifically radon (Rn) and radium (Ra). Source: Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection

Adhere to Jim on https://twitter.com/JimConca and see his and Dr. Wright’s guide at http://www.amazon.com/gp/merchandise/1419675885/sr=one-10/qid=1195953013/

Radiation From Fracking? No Problemo

Governor Cuomo Sued To Compel Fracking In New York

by Lengthy Island Attorney Paul A. Lauto, Esq

Hydraulic Fracturing (fracking) is spreading across numerous states in our country like wild fire.  This speedy development is fueled by greed, underneath the veil of becoming the salvation for our country’s power troubles.  Luckily in New York, as a outcome of a public outcry, Governor Cuomo has indefinately stayed the use of fracking pending the results of full evaluations by the Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) and the Division of Wellness (DOH).

The ongoing evaluations by the DEC and the DOH started in 2008 and 2012 respectively, with no any imposition of a completion deadline.  Numerous in New York suspect that Governor Cuomo is intentionally delaying the assessment method until right after he completes his election bid for a 2nd phrase as Governor this November. Fracking opponents in New York feel that no information is very good news, although fracking proponents have lost their patience and have now resorted to litigation to get their way.

The Joint Landowner’s Coalition of New York (JLCNY) has sued Governor Andrew Cuomo and other individuals, to compel resolution of the fracking evaluations so that fracking may begin in New York with out any further delay.  This litigious move by this pro fracking coalition, is successfully subscribing to the belief that we should let the well being and security of New Yorkers be damned and near out the evaluations (complete or not) so that the money producing fracking train could commence rolling.

This court action must come as no shock, as fracking organizations will seemingly quit at practically nothing to safe their income.  This was evidenced and detailed in our November 13, 2013 website entitled, “Fracking Company Sues Homeowner With Flammable Water For Alleged Defamation” (See www.liattorney.com/scales-of-justice.html).  Though many New Yorkers would like to know exactly where Governor Cuomo stands on this situation prior to casting their votes this November, his basis for abstention pending the outcome of the DEC and DOH evaluations is ironclad.

Andrew Cuomo has grow to be a formidable politician who to date, has succeeded in receiving most every thing he desires as Governor.  If Governor Cuomo sides against the fracking business, New York will turn into a battleground as we bare witness to a correct “Clash of the Titans.”  If this comes to pass, hopefully the residents of New York will not become collateral injury.

Lengthy Island Attorney
Paul A. Lauto, Esq.
www.liattorney.com

Governor Cuomo Sued To Compel Fracking In New York