The Human and Environmental Impact of Fracking: How Fracturing Shale for Gas Affects Us and Our World (Public Health Issues and Developments)

Fracking for gas trapped in shale could be a game changer in the quest to find alternatives to dirty fossil fuels, but it also has potential for harm. This book provides "one-stop shopping" for everyone who wants to know more about the issues. Oil and gas account for a large percentage of the world's energy consumption, and the search for new ways to extract both from the earth is a global quest. Fracking is viewed as an energy game-changer but is a controversial topic about which there is much misunderstanding. This unbiased work was written to bring clarity to the issues. Under the guidance of an internationally recognized public health expert, this book provides a comprehensive look at unconventional natural gas development from many different perspectives. Written for the layperson, the book dispels myths surrounding fracking, corrects misconceptions, and offers impartial, scientifically based information on both benefits and challenges. Readers will learn about the effects fracking has on the environmentour water, air, and climateas well as on human and animal health. The contributors also look at the economics of fracking and at its socioeconomic impact on local communities and nations. They discuss legal and ethical issues related to the practice and, in keeping with the intent to provide a fair and balanced overview, share the industry perspective as well. Foreword -- Seth B.C. Shonkoff Introduction -- Madelon L. Finkel Potential and known health impacts associated with unconventional natural gas extraction -- Jerome A. Paulson and Veronica Tinney The public health risk of endocrine disrupting chemicals -- Adam Law Impacts of shale gas extraction on animal health and implications for food safety -- Michelle Bamberger and Robert E. Oswald The importance of health impact assessments -- Liz Green Natural gas development and its effect on air quality -- Nathan P. DeJong, Roxana Z. Witter, and John L. Adgate Implications of unconventional gas extraction on climate change: A global perspective -- Philip L. Staddon and Michael H. Depledge Community impacts of shale-based energy development: A summary and research agenda -- Kathryn J. Brasier and Matthew Filteau Risks beyond the well pad: The economic footprint of shale gas development in the United States -- Susan Christopherson The regulation of shale gas development -- Kate Sinding, Daniel Raichel, and Jonathon Krois The ethics of shale gas development: Values, evidence, and policy -- Jake Hays and Inmaculada de Melo-Martin An industry perspective on the benefits and potential community health risks related to unconventional resource development -- Dennis J. Devlin The geology and sustainability of shale -- J. David Hughes -- Epilogue / Anthony R. Ingraffea. Cover 1 Contents 8 Foreword 10 Acknowledgments 12 Introduction 14 1. Potential and Known Health Impacts Associated with Unconventional Natural Gas Extraction 36 2. The Public Health Risk of Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals 58 3. Impacts of Shale Gas Extraction on Animal Health and Implications for Food Safety 70 4. The Importance of Health Impact Assessments 84 5. Natural Gas Development and Its Effect on Air Quality 96 6. Implications of Unconventional Gas Extraction on Climate Change: A Global Perspective 116 7. Community Impacts of Shale-Based Energy Development: A Summary and Research Agenda 130 8. Risks beyond the Well Pad: The Economic Footprint of Shale Gas Development in the United States 150 9. The Regulation of Shale Gas Development 166 10. The Ethics of Shale Gas Development: Values, Evidence, and Policy 190 11. An Industry Perspective on the Benefits and Potential Community Health Risks Related to Unconventional Resource Development 208 12. The Geology and Sustainability of Shale 230 13. Epilogue 242 About the Editor 252 About the Contributors 254 Index 260 A 260 B 261 C 261 D 262 E 262 F 263 G 264 H 264 I 265 J 265 K 265 L 265 M 266 N 266 O 267 P 267 Q 268 R 268 S 268 T 270 U 270 V 271 W 271 Z 272 « Oil and gas account for a large percentage of the world's energy consumption, and the search for new ways to extract both from the earth is a global quest. Fracking is viewed as an energy game-changer but is a controversial topic about which there is much misunderstanding. This unbiased work was written to bring clarity to the issues. Under the guidance of an internationally recognized public health expert, this book provides a comprehensive look at unconventional natural gas development from many different perspectives. Written for the layperson, the book dispels myths surrounding fracking, corrects misconceptions, and offers impartial, scientifically based information on both benefits and challenges. Readers will learn about the effects fracking has on the environment-our water, air, and climate-as well as on human and animal health. The contributors also look at the economics of fracking and at its socioeconomic impact on local communities and nations. They discuss legal and ethical issues related to the practice and, in keeping with the intent to provide a fair and balanced overview, share the industry perspective as well. »-- Résumé de l'éditeur "Oil and gas account for a large percentage of the world's energy consumption, and the search for new ways to extract both from the earth is a global quest. Fracking is viewed as an energy game-changer but is a controversial topic about which there is much misunderstanding. This unbiased work was written to bring clarity to the issues. Under the guidance of an internationally recognized public health expert, this book provides a comprehensive look at unconventional natural gas development from many different perspectives. Written for the layperson, the book dispels myths surrounding fracking, corrects misconceptions, and offers impartial, scientifically based information on both benefits and challenges. Readers will learn about the effects fracking has on the environment--our water, air, and climate--as well as on human and animal health. The contributors also look at the economics of fracking and at its socioeconomic impact on local communities and nations. They discuss legal and ethical issues related to the practice and, in keeping with the intent to provide a fair and balanced overview, share the industry perspective as well"--Provided by publisher Overview: Fracking for gas trapped in shale could be a game changer in the quest to find alternatives to dirty fossil fuels, but it also has potential for harm. This book provides "one-stop shopping" for everyone who wants to know more about the issues. Offers a comprehensive, impartial understanding of unconventional natural gas development from many different perspectives by experts in the field. -- Draws from the findings of the most up-to-date research and discusses areas where scientific findings are yet unclear. -- Addresses fracking's potential effects on humans, animals, and environmental factors including air quality, water quality, and climate change. -- Explains the economic, legal, regulatory, and ethical issues surrounding fracking. -- Examines social and community issues and the industry perspective