 The shale gas boom and the need for rational policyM. Finkel, J. Hays and A. Law American Journal of Public Health, 2013, vol. 103, issue 7, 1161-1163 Abstract: High-volume, slick water hydraulic fracturing of shale relies on pumping millions of gallons of surface water laced with toxic chemicals and sand under high pressure to create fractures to release the flow of gas. The process, however, has the potential to cause serious and irreparable damage to the environment and the potential for harm to human and animal health. At issue is how society should form appropriate policy in the absence of well-designed epidemiological studies and health impact assessments. The issue is fraught with environmental, economic, and health implications, and federal and state governments must establish detailed safeguards and ensure regulatory oversight, both of which are presently lacking in states where hydraulic fracturing is allowed. Copyright © 2012 by the American Public Health Association®. Keywords: natural gas, animal; article; environmental health; health care policy; health impact assessment; human; mining; policy; pollution, Animals; Environmental Health; Environmental Pollution; Extraction and Processing Industry; Gas, Natural; Health Impact Assessment; Health Policy; Humans; Public Policy (search for similar items in EconPapers) Downloads: (external link) Related works: Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:aph:ajpbhl:10.2105/ajph.2013.301285_3 Access Statistics for this article American Journal of Public Health is currently edited by Alfredo Morabia More articles in American Journal of Public Health from American Public Health Association |
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