From the Ashtabula, Geauga, Lake Counties Farmers Union:
Dr. Deborah Cowden, MD, will speak on the “Human Health Effects from Horizontal Hydraulic Fracturing” on April 26, 2013, at 6:30pm at the Huntsburg Town Hall (16534 State Route 322, Huntsburg, OH).
Cowden is a central Ohio physician and president of the Greene County Medical Society. The presentation will focus on what Cowden calls the “assault on our air quality” from unconventional oil and gas development. She will present a recent scientific study in which air near gas wells was measured and found to contain more than 50 chemicals, including benzene, xylene, ethylbenzene, and toluene. These volatile organic compounds are known to have negative effects on human health; benzene in particular known to cause cancer in humans.
Under 2012 Ohio law, physicians and first responders cannot quickly obtain the identity of the chemicals used in fracking to which workers, neighbors, or first responders may be exposed. This puts first responders at risk, because fires containing benzene or xylene must be fought from upwind. According to Cowden, last week the Ohio State Medical Association “overwhelmingly passed a resolution asking the legislature to pass laws giving doctors and first responders the exact identity of all the chemicals located on a hydraulic fracturing pad”.
This event is free and open to the public. It is presented by Frack Free Geauga, with the sponsorship of Ashtabula, Geauga, Lake Counties Farmers Union, Lake Effect chapter of the Ohio Ecological Food and Farm Association, Faith Communities Together for Frac Awareness, Concerned Citizens of Portage County, Frack Free Lake County, NEOGAP, and Ashtabula County Water Watch.
For more information, contact Jessica Schaner at FrackFreeGeauga@gmail.com or 440-749-4655.
[…] the likes of Ohio Citizens Action, a vocal anti-development group, as well as a handful of other individuals that are actively trying to confuse the public about this […]