Exposure to fracking chemicals and wastewater spurs fat cell development: Researchers saw increases in the size and number of fat cells in laboratory models following exposure, even at diluted concentrations. -- ScienceDaily

Exposure to fracking chemicals and wastewater
promotes fat cell development, or adipogenesis, in living cells in a
laboratory, according to a new Duke University-led study.

Researchers observed increases in both the size and number of fat
cells after exposing living mouse cells in a dish to a mixture of 23
commonly used fracking chemicals. They also observed these effects after
exposing the cells to samples of wastewater from fracked oil and gas
wells and surface water believed to be contaminated with the wastewater.
The findings appear June 21 in Science of the Total Environment.

Hydraulic fracturing negatively impacts infant health -- ScienceDaily

Health risks increase for infants born to mothers living within 2 miles
of a hydraulic fracturing site, according to a study published Dec. 13
in Science Advances. The research team found that infants born
within a half a mile from a fracking site were 25 percent more likely to
be born at low birth weights, leaving them at greater risk of infant
mortality, ADHD, asthma, lower test scores, lower schooling attainment
and lower lifetime earnings.

Hydraulic fracturing and infant health: New evidence from Pennsylvania

Science Advances  13 Dec 2017:
Vol. 3, no. 12, e1603021

Fracking chemicals exposure may harm fertility in female mice

"The study was the first to find a link between chemical exposure and adverse reproductive and developmental outcomes in female mice. Scientists exposed the mice to 23 chemicals commonly used in fracking, as well as oil and gas development, to study their effects on key hormones.
Researchers have previously found that these chemicals are endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) that mimic or block the body's hormones—the chemical messengers that regulate respiration, reproduction, metabolism, growth and other biological functions. More than 1,300 studies have found links between EDCs and serious health conditions such as infertility, diabetes, obesity, hormone-related cancers and neurological disorders, according to the Endocrine Society's 2015 Scientific Statement."

Associations between Unconventional Natural Gas Development and Nasal and Sinus, Migraine Headache, and Fatigue Symptoms in Pennsylvania

Background: Unconventional natural gas development (UNGD) (fracking) produces environmental contaminants and psychosocial stressors. Despite these concerns, few studies have evaluated the health effects of UNGD.

Objectives: We investigated associations between UNGD activity and symptoms in a cross-sectional study in Pennsylvania.

Methods: We mailed a self-administered questionnaire to 23,700 adult patients of the Geisinger Clinic. Using standardized and validated questionnaire items, we identified respondents with chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS), migraine headache, and fatigue symptoms. We created a summary UNGD activity metric that incorporated well phase, location, total depth, daily gas production and inverse distance-squared to patient residences. We used logistic regression, weighted for sampling and response rates, to assess associations between quartiles of UNGD activity and outcomes, both alone and in combination.



Results: The response rate was 33%. Of 7,785 study participants, 1,850 (24%) had current CRS symptoms, 1,765 (23%) had migraine headache, and 1,930 (25%) had higher levels of fatigue. Among individuals who met criteria for two or more outcomes, adjusted odds ratios for the highest quartile of UNGD activity compared to the lowest were [OR (95% CI)] 1.49 (0.78, 2.85) for CRS plus migraine, 1.88 (1.08, 3.25) for CRS plus fatigue, 1.95 (1.18, 3.21) for migraine plus fatigue, and 1.84 (1.08, 3.14) for all three outcomes together. Significant associations were also present in some models of single outcomes.

Conclusions: This study provides evidence that UNGD is associated with nasal and sinus, migraine headache, and fatigue symptoms in a general population representative sample."



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Toxins found in fracking fluids and wastewater, study shows -- ScienceDaily

"In an analysis of more than 1,000 chemicals in fluids used in and created by hydraulic fracturing (fracking), researchers found that many of the substances have been linked to reproductive and developmental health problems, and the majority had undetermined toxicity due to insufficient information."
157 of them -- chemicals such as arsenic, benzene, cadmium, lead, formaldehyde, chlorine, and mercury -- were associated with either developmental or reproductive toxicity. Of these, 67 chemicals were of particular concern because they had an existing federal health-based standard or guideline, said the scientists, adding that data on whether levels of chemicals exceeded the guidelines were too limited to assess.



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Humans may be harmed by endocrine disrupting chemicals released during natural gas mining

"More than 15 million Americans live within one mile of unconventional oil and gas (UOG) operations that combine directional drilling and hydraulic fracturing, or "fracking" to release natural gas from underground rock. Scientific studies still are inconclusive on the potential long-term effects on human development. Now, Susan C. Nagel and Christopher D. Kassotis, researchers with the University of Missouri, and national colleagues have conducted a review of research on health effects associated with UOG operations and concluded these activities have potential for environmental release of a complex mixture of endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) that could potentially harm human development and reproduction."



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Fracking may affect air quality and human health - Medical News Today

The researchers found that hydraulic fracturing - a technique for
releasing natural gas from below-ground rock formations - emits
pollutants known as PAHs (polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons), including
some that are linked with increased risk of cancer and respiratory ailments.

Fracking may affect air quality, human health -- ScienceDaily

Chemicals released during natural gas extraction may harm reproduction, development -- ScienceDaily

Unconventional oil and gas (UOG) operations combine directional drilling
and hydraulic fracturing, or "fracking," to release natural gas from
underground rock. Recent discussions have centered on potential air and
water pollution from chemicals used in these processes and how it
affects the more than 15 million Americans living within one mile of UOG
operations. Now, Susan C. Nagel, a researcher with the University of
Missouri, and national colleagues have conducted the largest review to
date of research centered on fracking byproducts and their effects on
human reproductive and developmental health. They determined that
exposure to chemicals released in fracturing may be harmful to human
health in men, women and children and recommend further scientific
study.

Developmental and reproductive effects of chemicals associated with unconventional oil and natural gas operations

Unconventional oil and gas (UOG) operations have the potential to increase air and water pollution in communities located near UOG operations. Every stage of UOG operation from well construction to extraction, operations, transportation, and distribution can lead to air and water contamination. Hundreds of chemicals are associated with the process of unconventional oil and natural gas production. In this work, we review the scientific literature providing evidence that adult and early life exposure to chemicals associated with UOG operations can result in adverse reproductive health and developmental effects in humans. Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) [including benzene, toluene, ethyl benzene, and xylene (BTEX) and formaldehyde] and heavy metals (including arsenic, cadmium and lead) are just a few of the known contributors to reduced air and water quality that pose a threat to human developmental and reproductive health. The developing fetus is particularly sensitive to environmental factors, which include air and water pollution. Research shows that there are critical windows of vulnerability during prenatal and early postnatal development, during which chemical exposures can cause potentially permanent damage to the growing embryo and fetus. Many of the air and water pollutants found near UOG operation sites are recognized as being developmental and reproductive toxicants; therefore there is a compelling need to increase our knowledge of the potential health consequences for adults, infants, and children from these chemicals through rapid and thorough health research investigation.

Hormone-disrupting activity of fracking chemicals worse than initially found

Many chemicals used in hydraulic fracturing, or fracking, can disrupt
not only the human body's reproductive hormones but also the
glucocorticoid and thyroid hormone receptors, which are necessary to
maintain good health, a new study finds. The results were presented
Monday at the joint meeting of the International Society of
Endocrinology and the Endocrine Society: ICE/ENDO 2014 in Chicago.

Unhealthy Chemicals Linked to Fracking | The Scientist Magazine®

Fracking, the increasingly popular strategy of breaking up underground shale formations using pressurized solutions piped far under the earth to extract oil and gas, may lead to the environmental release of endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) that have previously been associated with birth defects, infertility, and cancer, according to a study published yesterday (December 16) in Endocrinology. Water sampled from hydraulic fracking sites in Colorado revealed the presence of such chemicals at higher levels than control sites, as did samples collected from the Colorado River, where wastewater from fracking operations could end up following accidental spills.