University of Pittsburgh receives $2.5M to study health impacts of fracking
Tuesday, December 29, 2020
Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf’s administration is giving $2.5 million to the University of Pittsburgh to study the potential health impacts of fracking, according to StateImpact Pennsylvania.
Communities in the southwestern portion of the state have been calling for an investigation into the links between fracking and an increased incidence of some illnesses for more than a year.
The funding will support two observational epidemiological studies to be finished within two years. One will look at the possible relationship between fracking and childhood cancers. The other aims to replicate past studies on several other health impacts. Pitt plans to publish quarterly updates.
Learn more: StateImpact Pennsylvania > State gives $2.5 million to Pitt to study health impacts of fracking
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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.