Environment & Energy
Related: About this forumLivestock falling ill in fracking regions
BY ELIZABETH ROYTE, FOOD & ENVIRONMENT REPORTING NETWORK
In the midst of the domestic energy boom, livestock on farms near oil- and gas-drilling operations nationwide have been quietly falling sick and dying. While scientists have yet to isolate cause and effect, many suspect chemicals used in drilling and hydrofracking (or fracking) operations are poisoning animals through the air, water or soil.
Earlier this year, Michelle Bamberger, an Ithaca, N.Y., veterinarian, and Robert Oswald, a professor of molecular medicine at Cornells College of Veterinary Medicine, published the first and only peer-reviewed report to suggest a link between fracking and illness in food animals.
The authors compiled 24 case studies of farmers in six shale-gas states whose livestock experienced neurological, reproductive and acute gastrointestinal problems after being exposed either accidentally or incidentally to fracking chemicals in the water or air. The article, published in New Solutions: A Journal of Environmental and Occupational Health, describes how scores of animals died over the course of several years. Fracking industry proponents challenged the study, since the authors neither identified the farmers nor ran controlled experiments to determine how specific fracking compounds might affect livestock.
The death toll is insignificant when measured against the nations livestock population (some 97 million beef cattle go to market each year), but environmental advocates believe these animals constitute an early warning.
Exposed livestock are making their way into the food system, and its very worrisome to us, Bamberger said. They live in areas that have tested positive for air, water and soil contamination. Some of these chemicals could appear in milk and meat products made from these animals.
more
http://investigations.nbcnews.com/_news/2012/11/29/15547283-livestock-falling-ill-in-fracking-regions
How can investigators test for specific compounds that might be to blame when the fracking companies won't report what they are injecting into the wells!!!???
Overseas
(12,121 posts)Mnemosyne
(21,363 posts)SoapBox
(18,791 posts)Another shoe falling.
2naSalit
(86,307 posts)I was wondering when this can of worms would come oozing up to the light of day.
OKIsItJustMe
(19,937 posts)2naSalit
(86,307 posts)I review those.
Thespian2
(2,741 posts)energy companies who do the fracking to give a shit any time soon...
Champion Jack
(5,378 posts)Food crops
hedda_foil
(16,371 posts)Many thanks in advance.
OKIsItJustMe
(19,937 posts)hedda_foil
(16,371 posts)OKIsItJustMe
(19,937 posts)Of perhaps more concern:
http://www.nbcbayarea.com/investigations/Waste-Water-from-Oil-Fracking-Injected-into-Clean-Aquifers-282733051.html
[font size=4]California Dept. of Conservation Deputy Director admits that errors were made[/font]
(Video at the link.)
(Published Friday, Nov. 14, 2014)
[font size=3]State officials allowed oil and gas companies to pump nearly three billion gallons of waste water into underground aquifers that could have been used for drinking water or irrigation.
Those aquifers are supposed to be off-limits to that kind of activity, protected by the EPA.
Its inexcusable, said Hollin Kretzmann, at the Center for Biological Diversity in San Francisco. At (a) time when California is experiencing one of the worst droughts in history, were allowing oil companies to contaminate what could otherwise be very useful ground water resources for irrigation and for drinking. Its possible these aquifers are now contaminated irreparably.
Californias Department of Conservations Chief Deputy Director, Jason Marshall, told NBC Bay Area, In multiple different places of the permitting process an error could have been made.
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hedda_foil
(16,371 posts)And with aquifers so low as a result of the drought, the toxic water isn't even diluted enough to minimize the threat.
OKIsItJustMe
(19,937 posts)The trade association that represents many of Californias oil and gas companies says the water-injection is a paperwork issue. In a statement issued to NBC Bay Area, Western States Petroleum Association spokesman Tupper Hull said there has never been a bona vide claim or evidence presented that the paperwork confusion resulted in any contamination of drinking supplies near the disputed injection wells.
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questionseverything
(9,645 posts)between the poisons and the earthquakes who the heck would support this?