Activists rally to prevent fracking under Ohio’s Salt Fork State Park

Activists are fighting against a new law that requires state agencies to consider proposals to drill for oil and gas under Ohio’s public lands, writes Julie Grant in the Allegheny Front.

In a nutshell:

The law, signed by Governor DeWine in January, requires agencies to lease state lands for oil and natural gas production. The move has sparked outrage among environmentalists who argue that public consent was not obtained and that continued fossil fuel exploitation will have dire consequences for humanity.

Key quote:

“Make no mistake, the decision has been made without the consent of the public to whom these lands belong and against the desperate warnings of scientists that our continued exploitation of fossil fuels will send the human race to its grave,” said Aaron Dunbar, of Mid-Ohio Valley Climate Action.

The big picture:

Fracking, a method of extracting oil and natural gas from deep underground, continues to raise serious concerns about its health and ecological impacts. The process involves injecting vast amounts of water, sand, and chemicals into the ground to fracture rocks and release the fossil fuels trapped within. This extraction technique has been linked to various health issues, including respiratory problems and contaminated drinking water sources near fracking sites. The release of methane, a potent greenhouse gas, during fracking operations contributes significantly to climate change, exacerbating global warming and its associated ecological disruptions. As activists rally against the proposed fracking in Ohio's state parks, the debate over the potential dangers of this practice remains a crucial issue in environmental discourse.

Increased autism risk linked to exposure to wildfire smoke during pregnancy

In a first-of-its-kind study published in Environmental Science and Technology, researchers found that mothers who were exposed to wildlife smoke during the third trimester of pregnancy were more likely to have children diagnosed with autism by age 5.

In short:

More frequent exposure to wildlife smoke during pregnancy was associated with a higher risk of autism in children.
The study analyzed more than 200,000 mother-child pairs in Southern California between 2006 to 2014; nearly 60% of them were exposed to wildfire smoke for more than 5 days during pregnancy.
The authors also found that prenatal exposure to particulate matter air pollution from a variety of sources — not just wildfires — is associated with an increased risk of autism in children.

Key quote:

“As climate change increases the frequency and intensity of wildfires in many parts of the world, understanding their relationship with autism is important to being able to develop preventive policy and interventions that will protect pregnant women and their children.”

- Study co-author Mostafijur Rahman, via Tulane University’s accompanying press release

Why this matters:

As climate change continues to impact global weather patterns, wildfires have become increasingly intense and frequent. Their impact on air pollution is significant - in California, wildfires account for over 70% of the fine particulate matter exposure on days with poor air quality. Environmental hazards that affect the health of pregnant people and their children can have long-term and severe outcomes. The authors of this study underscore the need for policies that protect vulnerable populations from air pollution and reduce the inequality in its health impacts.

Related EHN coverage:

More resources:

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Wildfire smoke and pregnancy
Health and Environment Alliance (HEAL): Resources on Air Quality

Luglio, David et al. for Environmental Science & Technology. Jan. 20, 2026

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