According to a recent study from Johns Hopkins, expectant mothers who live near fracking wells are at a increased risk of complications during pregnancy. Researchers analyzed data from 40 counties in Pennsylvania, a fracking-friendly state that had less than 100 fracking sites in 2006 and today has over 8,000. They found that living near active drilling sites correlated with a 40 percent increase in pre-term birth and a 30 percent increase in “high-risk” pregnancy, which means complications like high blood pressure or excessive weight gain.
The byproducts of fracking are well-documented, from groundwater contamination to methane leaks to the sudden appearance of earthquakes in places where they don’t naturally occur. Now, there’s a new danger to add to the list: premature birth.
http://grist.org/climate-energy/fracking-linked-to-premature-births-study-finds/
The byproducts of fracking are well-documented, from groundwater contamination to methane leaks to the sudden appearance of earthquakes in places where they don’t naturally occur. Now, there’s a new danger to add to the list: premature birth.
http://grist.org/climate-energy/fracking-linked-to-premature-births-study-finds/