The Public Health Implications of Unconventional Natural Gas Drilling

The opportunity to capitalize on improved horizontal hydraulic fracturing technology to extract natural gas from shale formations across the country has led to rapid development of the industry. Its pace, combined with seeming government and industry reluctance to approach the subject, has outstripped that of research on the potential health impacts of drilling-related activities on workers, nearby residents and surrounding communities. We briefly discuss the multiple pathways through which human health may be affected by shale gas drilling and review the existing research literature on health impacts they pose. We conclude with recommendations for increased air, water, soil, noise, and community monitoring; and for implementation of comprehensive epidemiological studies of drilling and production communities and workers.