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Protestors opposing fracking gathered outside Parliament in London earlier this year.
(Photo: The Weekly Bull/flickr/cc)
Citing Human Health Risks, Report Calls for EU Moratorium on Fracking
'We know from experience in the USA that fracking wells can leak and accidents can happen.'
Jun 22, 2015
A major study (pdf) released Sunday finds that chemicals from fracking sites have the potential to cause significant pollution while posing risks to human health and wildlife.
In turn, the CHEM Trust—a British charity that investigates the harm chemicals cause ecosystems—is calling for a moratorium on fracking across Europe until key recommendations are implemented.
"Widespread fracking will threaten many of our valuable wildlife sites, as this technology has a high potential to pollute sensitive aquatic ecosystems; it can also harm human health," said CHEM Trust executive director Dr. Michael Warhurst, who added: "We know from experience in the USA that fracking wells can leak and accidents can happen, and this has led to significant pollution and damage to wildlife."
Specifically, the study cites everything from hormone disruption to skin conditions to cancers to respiratory problems as human health issues potentially caused or exacerbated by fracking.
The report calls for full disclosure of all chemicals used in fracking, "with no provision for commercial confidentiality;" stronger EU regulation of the fossil fuel extraction process; regulations that protect people and ecosystems even when fracking wells are no longer in use; and effective monitoring and enforcement across the continent.
Speaking to the final recommendation, the CHEM Trust notes how austerity negatively impacts environmental regulation: "This means that regulators must have the resources to carry out these functions; this is a particular concern in the UK where the Environment Agency (EA) is experiencing substantial budget cuts."
The report was released just days before officials in Lancashire, in northwestern England, vote on whether to permit the fossil fuel company Cuadrilla to frack two sites. The CHEM Trust points out that this could potentially affect wildlife in and around Morecambe Bay, a wetland of international importance. CHEM Trust will send its report to the key councilors in Lancashire prior to this vote.
As the CHEM Trust's Warhurt said: "We don't want to look back in the future to realize that we have damaged our precious countryside in a headlong rush to extract fossil fuels."
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Deirdre Fulton
Deirdre Fulton is a former Common Dreams senior editor and staff writer. Previously she worked as an editor and writer for the Portland Phoenix and the Boston Phoenix, where she was honored by the New England Press Association and the Association of Alternative Newsweeklies. A Boston University graduate, Deirdre is a co-founder of the Maine-based Lorem Ipsum Theater Collective and the PortFringe theater festival. She writes young adult fiction in her spare time.
A major study (pdf) released Sunday finds that chemicals from fracking sites have the potential to cause significant pollution while posing risks to human health and wildlife.
In turn, the CHEM Trust—a British charity that investigates the harm chemicals cause ecosystems—is calling for a moratorium on fracking across Europe until key recommendations are implemented.
"Widespread fracking will threaten many of our valuable wildlife sites, as this technology has a high potential to pollute sensitive aquatic ecosystems; it can also harm human health," said CHEM Trust executive director Dr. Michael Warhurst, who added: "We know from experience in the USA that fracking wells can leak and accidents can happen, and this has led to significant pollution and damage to wildlife."
Specifically, the study cites everything from hormone disruption to skin conditions to cancers to respiratory problems as human health issues potentially caused or exacerbated by fracking.
The report calls for full disclosure of all chemicals used in fracking, "with no provision for commercial confidentiality;" stronger EU regulation of the fossil fuel extraction process; regulations that protect people and ecosystems even when fracking wells are no longer in use; and effective monitoring and enforcement across the continent.
Speaking to the final recommendation, the CHEM Trust notes how austerity negatively impacts environmental regulation: "This means that regulators must have the resources to carry out these functions; this is a particular concern in the UK where the Environment Agency (EA) is experiencing substantial budget cuts."
The report was released just days before officials in Lancashire, in northwestern England, vote on whether to permit the fossil fuel company Cuadrilla to frack two sites. The CHEM Trust points out that this could potentially affect wildlife in and around Morecambe Bay, a wetland of international importance. CHEM Trust will send its report to the key councilors in Lancashire prior to this vote.
As the CHEM Trust's Warhurt said: "We don't want to look back in the future to realize that we have damaged our precious countryside in a headlong rush to extract fossil fuels."
Deirdre Fulton
Deirdre Fulton is a former Common Dreams senior editor and staff writer. Previously she worked as an editor and writer for the Portland Phoenix and the Boston Phoenix, where she was honored by the New England Press Association and the Association of Alternative Newsweeklies. A Boston University graduate, Deirdre is a co-founder of the Maine-based Lorem Ipsum Theater Collective and the PortFringe theater festival. She writes young adult fiction in her spare time.
A major study (pdf) released Sunday finds that chemicals from fracking sites have the potential to cause significant pollution while posing risks to human health and wildlife.
In turn, the CHEM Trust—a British charity that investigates the harm chemicals cause ecosystems—is calling for a moratorium on fracking across Europe until key recommendations are implemented.
"Widespread fracking will threaten many of our valuable wildlife sites, as this technology has a high potential to pollute sensitive aquatic ecosystems; it can also harm human health," said CHEM Trust executive director Dr. Michael Warhurst, who added: "We know from experience in the USA that fracking wells can leak and accidents can happen, and this has led to significant pollution and damage to wildlife."
Specifically, the study cites everything from hormone disruption to skin conditions to cancers to respiratory problems as human health issues potentially caused or exacerbated by fracking.
The report calls for full disclosure of all chemicals used in fracking, "with no provision for commercial confidentiality;" stronger EU regulation of the fossil fuel extraction process; regulations that protect people and ecosystems even when fracking wells are no longer in use; and effective monitoring and enforcement across the continent.
Speaking to the final recommendation, the CHEM Trust notes how austerity negatively impacts environmental regulation: "This means that regulators must have the resources to carry out these functions; this is a particular concern in the UK where the Environment Agency (EA) is experiencing substantial budget cuts."
The report was released just days before officials in Lancashire, in northwestern England, vote on whether to permit the fossil fuel company Cuadrilla to frack two sites. The CHEM Trust points out that this could potentially affect wildlife in and around Morecambe Bay, a wetland of international importance. CHEM Trust will send its report to the key councilors in Lancashire prior to this vote.
As the CHEM Trust's Warhurt said: "We don't want to look back in the future to realize that we have damaged our precious countryside in a headlong rush to extract fossil fuels."
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