Shale Extraction Poses Low Risk to Public Health - PHE Report

Public Health England published a report on Thursday advocating that the risks to public health from exposure to emissions from shale gas extraction are low if operations are properly run and regulated.

“Where potential risks have been identified in other countries, the reported problems are typically due to operational failure,” John Harrison, Director of PHE’s Centre for Radiation, Chemical and Environmental Hazards, said in a note released by the British Government. 

The press release refers to contamination of groundwater, which the PHE considers to be related to leakage through the vertical borehole. The operationally autonomous executive agency of the Department of Health wrote that contamination of groundwater is unlikely in case of proper construction and maintenance, ‘because of the depth at which it occurs.’ 

“Good on-site management and appropriate regulation of all aspects of exploratory drilling, gas capture as well as the use and storage of fracking fluid is essential to minimise the risks to the environment and health,” Harrison commented, adding that the PHE would work with regulators to ensure appropriate assessment of risk from all aspects of shale gas extraction.

The draft report is being made available for comment for one month.