Washington, D.C. – Today, the Concerned Health Professionals of New York and Physicians for Social Responsibility released the fifth edition of the Compendium of Scientific, Medical, and Media Findings Demonstrating Risks and Harms of Fracking, which focuses on “topics most closely related to the public health and safety impacts of unconventional gas and oil drilling and fracking” and its associated infrastructure and activities.

In response, Food & Water Watch’s executive director, Wenonah Hauter, released the following statement:

“The fracking health compendium is the most comprehensive look at the many ways fracking harms public health and destabilizes the climate. Its analysis spans from the toxic emissions of methane and other chemicals from leaking wells and infrastructure like Aliso Canyon, where communities have faced many debilitating health impacts, to the many documented effects on reproductive health, cancer risks and respiratory health—and beyond. Whether it’s the unacceptable risks to our drinking water or our food crops, the amount of research the compendium aggregates is stunning.

“The compendium points out the specific risks of fracking in California, where much of our food is grown. Fracking waste has been illegally injected into aquifers, which linger with groundwater where our crops are grown. Four counties in the Central Valley even purchase wastewater from oil and gas operations in the area for irrigation—water that mixes in the groundwater there—and we are now calling for a ban on that practice as well.

“The compendium also looks at the risks of fracking in Florida, a state now considering a ban on the practice. Florida’s highly permeable aquifers and interconnected groundwater system leave it vulnerable to contamination, and Florida’s exposure to hurricanes makes it more vulnerable to spills and leaks.

“The risks of infrastructure associated with the export of liquefied natural gas, like pipelines, are also examined, with U.S. communities saddled with fracking’s harms for oil and gas industry profit. Pipelines like the proposed Mariner East 2 in Pennsylvania, which will export natural gas liquids from fracking to the UK to help manufacture plastic, are one example. Last week over 100 U.S. and international groups called on Gov. Tom Wolf to shut down the dangerous project.

“The science shows that fracking poses unacceptable risks to both our communities and our climate. As the first national organization to echo the grassroots call for a ban on fracking, we knew that fracking was too toxic to be regulated. Now, we also know we must transition to 100 percent renewable energy by 2035. Fracking and fossil fuels have no place in our energy future if we want to protect our access to safe food and clean water—and avoid the worst of the climate chaos that lies ahead. We support the Off Fossil Fuels for a Better Future Act, introduced by Rep. Tulsi Gabbard, which provides a roadmap for this much needed transition that prioritizes environmental justice and protections for displaced fossil fuel industry workers.”

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Food & Water Watch champions healthy food and clean water for all. We stand up to corporations that put profits before people, and advocate for a democracy that improves people’s lives and protects our environment.

Contact: Darcey Rakestraw, (202) 683-2467, [email protected]