Pa. doctors to inform health department of drilling-related health problems in patients
Tuesday, August 5, 2014
The Pennsylvania Health Department is requesting that doctors notify the Bureau of Epidemiology of any health complaints patients have that could be tied to oil and gas drilling.
The Pennsylvania Medical Society attempted to survey about 8,500 doctors in July 2012 about patients’ health problems related to oil and gas drilling, but only received responses from 126 physicians.
From the survey’s few results, the society learn one piece of information from the doctors that did respond: most don’t feel prepared to give informations to patients about the potential health effects related to drilling.
From State Impact:
“One question all 126 physicians did answer was about their preparedness to provide information to patients about the potential health effects of shale gas development. The majority reported they ‘did not feel at all prepared.’”
Via: State Impact > Pa. health department reaches out to doctors amid controversy over drilling complaints
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Shale FAQ
What is fracking?
Fracking is a slang term for hydraulic fracturing. Fracturing is a process by which highly pressurized fluid is pumped thousands of feet into the ground to fracture rock formations. The goal is to release the natural gas that’s locked inside the rock.
Is it safe?
What most concerns people about fracturing is ground water contamination. The worry is that fractures underground, caused by the process, will extending upwards and into aquifers, releasing gas and chemicals into the ground water supply. There’s been no confirmed reports of such a thing happening. Though surface spills and drill site blowouts can lead to localized environmental concerns.
Will my water catch on fire?
Flammable water is caused by the release of methane gas into a drinking water supply. Methane gas occurs naturally and can be released by any kind of drilling, including water wells. In Pennsylvania officials fined Chesapeake Energy $1 million for contaminating ground water with methane. It was determined that the company had not properly cemented it’s boreholes and gas migrated up the well, between rock and into aquifers.