fracking
Polluted air is endangering newborns in New Mexico
A new study reveals that air pollution is significantly linked to low birth weight among babies born near industrial areas in New Mexico, posing serious health risks.
In short:
- The University of New Mexico study connects exposure to five industrial pollutants with low birth weight in infants.
- Areas like Albuquerque, Santa Fe and the Permian Basin –the country's most productive oilfield– have some of the worst air quality in the U.S., affecting local newborns' health.
- Minority and low-income communities face disproportionate impacts from pollution, with higher incidences of low birth weight among Black and Latino infants.
Key quote:
“The stakes are incredibly high. Low birth weight not only impacts the health of newborns but can also set children up for health issues that extend well into adulthood.”
— Giovanna Rossi, New Mexico organizer for Moms Clean Air Force.
Why this matters:
Protecting pregnant women and their babies from industrial pollution is vital as low birth weight is linked to severe health issues, from respiratory problems to heart disease, creating a critical public health crisis. Read more: Air pollution linked to millions of birth complications across the globe.
Water gushes from abandoned oil wells in Texas
A troubling trend of water erupting from abandoned oil wells in West Texas raises unanswered questions about the cause and impact on the environment.
In short:
- Water has been gushing from abandoned oil wells on Schuyler Wight's West Texas ranch, with no clear explanation from regulators.
- The Texas Railroad Commission has been unable to determine the cause, despite numerous incidents and cleanup efforts.
- Experts suggest that the injection of fracking wastewater might be increasing underground pressure, leading to these blowouts.
Key quote:
“There’s been such an increase in disposal of produced water over the past decade, there’s an overwhelming amount of water being disposed. That pressure has to go somewhere.”
— Dominic DiGiulio, an environmental consultant and geoscientist
Why this matters:
These unexplained water eruptions, occurring in an area with weak regulatory oversight, could have severe long-term effects on local ecosystems and agriculture.
Toxic gas leaks from Texas oil fields continue unchecked
In Texas, thousands of residents are exposed to dangerous levels of hydrogen sulfide from oil and gas wells, with regulators failing to address the health risks.
Will Evans, Caroline Ghisolfi, and Amanda Drane report for The Examination.
In short:
- Hydrogen sulfide gas emissions from oil wells in Texas frequently exceed state safety limits, endangering local communities.
- Despite repeated violations, regulators rarely penalize companies, allowing dangerous conditions to persist.
- Residents near these wells report various health issues, including headaches, nausea, and respiratory problems.
Key quote:
“It’s very serious. I think it has affected all of our health. We’ve had oil companies that have told us, ‘Just move.’ We’ve been here generations. It’s our place.”
— Marka Giebler, Breckenridge, Texas resident
Why this matters:
Continuous exposure to hydrogen sulfide can lead to severe health problems. The failure of regulatory bodies to enforce safety measures exacerbates the risk, resulting in a serious public health issue. Read more: Toxic air lingers in Texas Latino community, revealing failures in state’s air monitoring system.
Texas firms plan to release treated wastewater into the Pecos River
Texas companies are looking to discharge oilfield wastewater into the Pecos River watershed, raising environmental concerns.
Martha Pskowski and Dylan Baddour report for Inside Climate News.
In short:
- Texas is increasing permits for oilfield wastewater discharges due to concerns about earthquake risks from underground disposal.
- Environmentalists and scientists question the safety of this practice, noting the potential for pollution from toxic and radioactive substances in the water.
- The state is under pressure to develop new water quality standards that address the unique contaminants found in oilfield wastewater.
Key quote:
“Let’s make sure that, as they develop their plans, they keep the best interest of the river in mind and not just some nebulous idea that it’s a place to dump water anytime you want to.”
— Ira Yates, founder of Friends of the Pecos
Why this matters:
Discharging treated oilfield wastewater into rivers like the Pecos could impact water quality and ecosystem health, posing risks to wildlife and potentially human health. Health implications loom large for communities downstream who rely on the river for drinking water, recreation, and agriculture. There’s a palpable fear that despite the best treatment efforts, unknown risks may compromise the quality of life for those who have long depended on the purity of the river.
Learn more: After a decade of research, here’s what scientists know about the health impacts of fracking.
Why a “fracking refugee” is attending the global plastics treaty negotiations
“Fracking and building pipelines in order to create more poisonous plastic is ruining people’s lives.”
Jill Hunkler, an Ohio resident who considers herself a “fracking refugee,” is telling her family’s story at the global plastics treaty negotiations in Ottawa this week, where negotiators from about 175 countries are working to advance a treaty to address global plastic pollution.
“I was forced to leave my home that I built with my own hands,” she told Environmental Health News. “I lived in Somerset Township, Ohio, where my sister, my mom and I had 13 acres of land and we had spent years building homes on it that we loved, but then 78 fracking well pads were built within five miles of our home.”
Air pollution from the fracking operations sickened her and her family, Hunkler said, and they experienced symptoms like headaches, nausea, rashes, body aches and difficulty breathing that they hadn’t experienced before the wells were drilled. The family tried to get help from regulators, but after years of suffering with little action, they opted to move.
Her family moved to another property, she said. “But eventually fracking showed up there too, and I moved again to try and escape it. So now I’m twice a fracking refugee.”
More than 99% of plastic is made from fossil fuels, and as the world transitions to renewable energy, fossil fuel companies — particularly those invested in fracking — are driving a new plastics boom to stay profitable. For example, in the Ohio River Valley, where Hunkler is from, Shell recently began operations at its massive Pennsylvania plastics plant that converts fracked ethane gas into plastic pellets, many of which are used to create single-use plastic products like bags and packaging.
Since starting up in 2022, Shell’s Pennsylvania plastics plant has been fined millions of dollars for violating clean air laws and is being sued by environmental advocacy groups over potential health impacts from harmful emissions. Last week, Pennsylvania’s Attorney General Michelle Henry also announced charges against Shell for violating Pennsylvania’s Clean Streams laws with industrial waste during construction of the pipelines that bring ethane feedstock from fracked natural gas to the plastics plant. Concerns about pollution from the plant have also caused families to move away from the region.
After becoming a fracking refugee, Hunkler spent eight years fighting to stop a similar plastics plant from being built near her home in Ohio — a project that has been put on hold indefinitely.
“When people think about the health impacts of plastics they tend to think about harmful microplastics in our bodies, which is really important, but it’s also important to look at the devastating public health impacts all the way down the supply chain” Hunkler said. “Fracking and building pipelines in order to create more poisonous plastic is ruining people’s lives.”
Tensions at the plastic pollution treaty talks
Jill Hunkler (right) and Anaïs Peterson (left) hold a banner during a march in Ottawa organized by the Break Free From Plastic coalition
Photo by Diane Peterson
If the current trajectory for the plastics industry continues unabated, plastic manufacturing is estimated to account for more than a third of the growth in oil demand by 2030 and nearly half by 2050—ahead of trucks, aviation, and shipping, according to the International Energy Agency.
The stated goal of the global plastics treaty is to end plastic pollution by 2040. Hunkler, like many other activists, believe this goal won’t be achieved unless plastic production stops. They are supporting a version of the plastic treaty supported by a group of “High Ambition” countries that includes slowing down plastic production via bans, restrictions or caps.
"It’s important to look at the devastating public health impacts all the way down the supply chain" – Jill Hunkler, an Ohio resident who considers herself a “fracking refugee.”
Meanwhile, plastic industry lobbyists – also attending the negotiations in Ottawa – are promoting plastic’s beneficial uses, such as medical products and reducing food waste. The plastics industry, alongside a coalition of mostly fossil-fuel-producing countries, are pushing “chemical recycling” as a solution to plastic pollution, but environmental advocates say the process is energy-intensive, creates toxic air and water pollution, and fails to actually reduce plastic waste.
It has also proven difficult to profit from chemical recycling operations — none of the approximately ten operational plants in the US are currently operating at full capacity, according to a report from the advocacy group Beyond Plastic. This month a chemical recycling plant in Oregon was shuttered, and a proposed plant in Pennsylvania was canceled amid concerns about the efficacy and feasibility of chemical recycling.
“I hope sharing my story will help the negotiators in Ottawa recognize that fracking and extracting fossil fuels to keep making more plastic is toxic,” Hunkler said. “With the exception of the small amount of plastic that’s needed for medical and other essential uses, we do not need plastic to function as a society. It’s a relatively new product on the planet, and the convenience of it is not worth jeopardizing the health of our children and future generations.”
Fracking changes the landscape near Ohio's Salt Fork State Park
Residents near Ohio's largest state park face changes as fracking expands, altering the region's character.
In short:
- Terri Sabo, a local resident since 1983, expresses concern over the transformation of Guernsey County, Ohio, due to fracking-related industrialization.
- Recent state laws have expedited the leasing process for fracking in state parks, with multiple parcels near Salt Fork now contracted to energy companies.
- FracTracker Alliance reports over 1,400 fracking incidents in Ohio, with significant local opposition to increased industrial activity.
Key quote:
"I'm past the sadness. I'm into acceptance now. And it's gonna happen."
— Terri Sabo, local resident and activist.
Why this matters:
The alteration of landscapes and potential for spills and leaks of fracking fluids can disrupt local ecosystems, harm wildlife and endanger species dependent on pristine environments.
A 2021EHN scientific investigation found that western Pennsylvania families near fracking were exposed to harmful chemicals, and regulations failed to protect communities' mental, physical and social health.
Fracking's role in Argentina's increased earthquakes
Residents of northern Patagonia are enduring increasing earthquakes caused by intensive fracking, with little action from Argentine regulators despite clear evidence linking the two.
In short:
- In Argentina's Patagonia region, frequent earthquakes have become a norm due to intense fracking activities, severely impacting local communities and structures.
- Despite clear links between fracking operations and seismic activities, regulatory bodies remain largely inactive, failing to provide necessary oversight or mitigation strategies.
- Indigenous Mapuche communities, alongside other locals, experience significant distress and damage, with little to no governmental support or recourse.
Key quote:
"I have been completely traumatized."
— Ana Guircaleo, member of the Wirkaleo Mapuche community
Why this matters:
Seismic events triggered by fracking can have far-reaching consequences beyond property damage. They can disrupt local economies, causing financial strain on residents and businesses alike.
Fracking not only consumes vast amounts of water and releases greenhouse gases into the atmosphere but also has the potential to contaminate groundwater and surface water sources with harmful chemicals.