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GreenWeek
ClickGreen’s review of all the week’s news, views, research and analysis with a focus on low carbon and sustainability
Volume 21: Nov 1, 2013
Government scientists admit risk
to public health from fracking
New Department of Health research ackowledges potential dangers
By Stuart Qualtrough
G overnment health chiefs
have admitted there is a
risk to public health from
exposure to emissions from
shale gas extraction under the
current monitoring framework.
And scientists at Public Health
England (PHE) admit that in the
absence of regulations in the UK,
drilling operators could potentially
use a “wide range of chemicals…
many of which are classi?ed as
highly toxic and/or carcinogenic”.
It con?rms that the risks from
small-scale drilling for exploratory
purposes are “clearly different
from the risks from commercial
scale operations”.
The Government’s own body,
which is part of the Department
of Health, admits there will
remain a low risk to health even
if operations are properly run
and regulated but described
“potentially signi?cant” pollution
impacts to air, land and water.
The draft report was published
this week and reviewed the
potential health impacts of shale
gas extraction. Its study of the
scienti?c literature focuses on the
potential impact of chemicals and
radioactive material from all
stages of the process, including
the fracturing (fracking) of shale.
As there is no commercial shale
gas extraction in the UK, the draft
report looks at information from
countries where it is taking place.
Dept of Health report reveals list of recommendations to protect health
Dr John Harrison, Director
of PHE’s Centre for Radiation,
Chemical and Environmental
Hazards, said: “The currently
available evidence indicates
that the potential risks to
public health from exposure
to emissions associated with
the shale gas extraction process
are low if operations are properly
run and regulated.
“Where potential risks have been
identi?ed in other countries, the
reported problems are typically
due to operational failure.
“Good on-site management and
appropriate regulation of all
aspects of exploratory drilling, gas
capture as well as the use and
storage of fracking ?uid are
essential to minimise the risks to
the environment and health.”
Good on-site
management and
appropriate regulation
are essential to
minimise the risks to the
environment and health
Dr John Harrison,
Director, PHE’s Centre for
Radiation, Chemical and
Environmental Hazards
However, Friends of the Earth
Energy Campaigner Helen Rimmer
said: “Low risk is not the same as
no risk. Evidence suggests fracking
has contaminated drinking water
in Australia and the US. There’s
no guarantee it won’t happen
here – especially given gaping
holes in regulations.
“If we’re going to tackle
climate change we can’t afford
to burn more dirty fossil fuel – we
should be developing renewable
energy instead.”
The PHE report con?rms most
evidence from other countries
suggests that any contamination of
groundwater, if it occurs, is likely to
be caused by leakage through the
vertical borehole. Therefore good
well construction and maintenance
is essential to reduce the risks of
groundwater contamination.
Contamination of groundwater
from the underground fracking
process itself is unlikely because of
the depth at which it occurs.
However, the report delivered a
number of key recommendations
to minimise the risk to public
health in the future:
• Public Health England needs to
continue to work with regulators to
ensure all aspects of shale gas
extraction and related activities are
properly risk assessed as part of the
planning and permitting process
• Baseline environmental
monitoring is needed to facilitate
continued on page 7