Facts for
your Pediatrician
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What to share with your pediatrician if your child is
exposed to shale gas development at school
Significant emissions are
generated by shale gas drilling,
processing, and transport.
Research confirms that the
particles and chemicals being
released during these activities
have the potential to be
dangerous to our health. And
there is growing evidence that
emissions are currently causing
health effects in residents living
nearby. As a parent, you are
standing on solid ground when
you say you’re concerned that
your child may be reacting to
contaminants in your air or
water. Included in this flyer is a
list of articles that present this
information. Your pediatrician
might want to see the research.
What’s around you?
Your child spends about half of
his/her waking hours at school.
If you are concerned that he or
she is reacting to
contaminants, try to find out
what kind of activity is going on
within a couple of miles of your
school as well as your home.
Emissions can travel over long
distances. Emissions from
major polluters, like processing
plants or large compressor
stations during a blowdown (an
especially large release of
gasses and chemicals, can
travel more than two miles.
But the closer you are to any
emission source, the higher
your level of exposure. Also the
terrain matters. So if you’re in a
valley you might have higher
exposures than if your house or
school were in a flat location.
Frequently cited air emissions
include particulate matter;
carbon monoxide; and volatile
organic compounds (VOCs)
such as formaldehyde,
benzene, toluene, and
methylene chloride. FracFocus
(fracfocus.org) is a database
into which industry operators
Things you may
want to bring to a
pediatric appointment
• Any medical reports you
have for your child
• Water or air testing reports,
if you have any
• The list of articles on shale
gas emissions and health
effects
• If you keep notes or a health
diary as noted above, it’s
worth bringing them to your
appointment
report the chemicals they use
in hydraulic fracturing. Many
states, including Pennsylvania,
require this chemical
disclosure, some do not. The
FracFocus registry lists
hundreds of chemicals used in
the hydraulic fracturing
process. Industry operators do
not have to report chemicals
they consider “trade secrets.”
What are the health concerns
you have about your child?
Write down your health
concerns. Shale development
emissions are not constant;
they can come and go.
Sometimes they may be more
intense than others. Certain
weather conditions will keep
the emissions close to the
ground, lingering near your
house or school. Other times
the emissions are quickly
dispersed by breezy, sunny
weather and are carried up and
away. The changing exposures
continued on other side