Health

Why Health Matters

Fracking and oil and gas development are industrial activities that can introduce air emissions, chemicals, wastewater, noise, heavy truck traffic, and other potential hazards into or near communities.

Researchers have studied whether living near unconventional oil and gas development is associated with effects on human health. While the strength of the evidence varies by health outcome, a growing body of research has reported associations between proximity to oil and gas development and adverse health outcomes.

For SAFE, protecting Southern Illinois means considering not only what happens underground, but also what oil and gas development may mean for the people who live, work, raise families, and depend on clean air and water here.

How People May Be Exposed

Potential exposure does not come from a single source. Oil and gas development involves many activities—from preparing and drilling a well to producing oil or gas, handling wastewater, transporting materials, and operating associated equipment and infrastructure.

  • Air emissions from wells, engines, trucks, compressors, tanks, and other equipment.
  • Water contamination resulting from spills, leaks, improper wastewater handling, or other failures during the hydraulic-fracturing water cycle.
  • Wastewater and waste handling, including the transportation, storage, treatment, reuse, and disposal of produced water and other wastes.
  • Noise, light, and traffic associated with drilling and other industrial activity.
  • Accidental releases and spills of fuels, chemicals, wastewater, or other materials.

What Health Research Has Found

Studies of communities near unconventional oil and gas development have examined a wide range of health outcomes.

Research reviews have reported associations involving pregnancy and birth outcomes, including preterm birth and low birth weight. Studies have also investigated asthma and other respiratory conditions, cardiovascular effects, and other health outcomes.

An association does not necessarily prove that oil and gas development caused a particular illness. Researchers continue to investigate exposure pathways, differences among communities and drilling operations, and other factors that may influence health.

The developing body of evidence nevertheless provides an important reason to consider public health when decisions are made about where and how oil and gas development occurs.

Oil and gas development can produce emissions from drilling and production equipment, diesel engines, compressors, storage tanks, trucks, and other sources.

Depending on the operation, pollutants may include volatile organic compounds and other air contaminants. Exposure depends on many factors, including the pollutants released, their concentrations, weather conditions, distance from the source, and duration of exposure.

For nearby communities, air quality is therefore an important part of evaluating the potential effects of fossil-fuel development.

Water is used throughout the hydraulic-fracturing process. After a well is fractured, water returning to the surface must be collected, transported, treated, reused, or disposed of.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has found scientific evidence that activities in the hydraulic-fracturing water cycle can affect drinking-water resources under some circumstances.

Protecting groundwater, private wells, streams, rivers, and other water resources therefore requires attention throughout the entire process—from water acquisition and chemical mixing through wastewater handling and disposal.

Water collected out of a creek from an oil spill in White County.

Some People May Be More Vulnerable

Health risks and exposures are not necessarily the same for everyone.
Children, pregnant people, older adults, people with existing health conditions, workers, and residents living close to industrial activity may face different circumstances or vulnerabilities. Where wells and related infrastructure are located—and how close they are to homes, schools, workplaces, farms, and water supplies—matters when evaluating potential exposure.

Why SAFE Pays Attention to Health

Southern Illinois residents should not have to choose between economic activity and protecting their families’ health.

SAFE follows scientific research, proposed development, permits, regulations, and community concerns so that potential health consequences are considered before decisions are made.

We believe communities deserve reliable information, meaningful opportunities to participate in decisions, and strong protections for the air they breathe and the water they depend upon.

Protecting Southern Illinois means protecting the people who call it home.

Compendium of Scientific, Medical, and Media Findings Demonstrating Risks and Harms of Fracking and Associated Gas and Oil Infrastructure,
The human health effects of unconventional oil and gas development (UOGD): A scoping review of epidemiologic studies
Executive Summary, Hydraulic Fracturing Study – Final Assessment 2016