97 New Locations in 3 States Contaminated With
PFAS Chemicals From Fracking Waste
Children’s Health Defense
By Kristina Marusic
February 16th, 2024
Exposure to PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances), which are used in fracking and other types of oil and gas wells, is linked to kidney and testicular cancer, liver and thyroid problems, reproductive problems and increased risk of birth defects.
Waste from fracking wells that used PFAS — commonly known as “forever chemicals” — has been dumped at dozens of sites across Pennsylvania, Ohio and West Virginia — all of which could face contamination of soil, groundwater and drinking water as a result.
PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) have been used in hydraulic fracturing and other types of oil and gas wells across the U.S. for at least a decade.
Exposure to the chemicals, which are also used to make various consumer products nonstick and waterproof, is linked to health problems including kidney and testicular cancer, liver and thyroid problems, reproductive problems, lowered vaccine efficacy in children and increased risk of birth defects, among others.
Regulatory loopholes and a lack of transparency make it impossible to know how extensively the chemicals have been used in oil and gas production.
In August, however, Environmental Health News (EHN), documented the first case of private drinking water contaminated with PFAS potentially linked to fracking wells, and in October EHN mapped the eight locations where operators have publicly disclosed the kind of PFAS they used in Pennsylvania fracking wells.
Regulators won’t test for PFAS near wells — even ones that had spills
Now, a new map developed for EHN by FracTracker using public data reveals that waste generated at the eight Pennsylvania fracking wells with documented PFAS use has traveled to at least 97 additional sites for reuse and disposal.
Those eight wells generated more than 23 million gallons of liquid waste and 30,390 tons of solid waste between 2012 and 2022 so far.
“It’s unique that we’re able to trace this in Pennsylvania,” Matt Kelso, a manager of data & technology at FracTracker, who developed the map, told EHN. “Other states may tell you a little about the waste generated at well pads, but most don’t publicly report where it goes.”
Experts say many of these secondary disposal sites are also likely to be contaminated by PTFE (Polytetrafluoroethylene), commonly known as Teflon, which is one of more than 9,000 PFAS, and was reported as being used at all eight wells.
What is In Our Water
Oil and Gas Injection Well Issues in the Mid-Ohio Valley
Presented January 8th, 2024 / Washington County Ohio MOVCAC Meeting
EPA Knew Fracking Chemicals Were Toxic,
But Approved Them Anyway
07/13/21
Internal documents obtained by Physicians for Social Responsibility reveal that between 2010 and 2020, fossil fuel corporations injected into the ground potentially carcinogenic chemicals that can degrade into PFAS, or “forever chemicals,” after Obama’s EPA approved their use despite agency scientists’ concerns about toxicity.
Toxic PFAS Chemicals in Fracking Wells
Detected in Drinking Water
08/23/22
Exposure to “forever chemicals” is linked to kidney and testicular cancer, liver and thyroid problems, reproductive problems, and increased risk of birth defects, among others.
Kids Born Near Fracking Sites at Much Greater
Risk of Developing Leukemia
8/18/2022
Children living near fracking and other “unconventional” drilling operations at birth face significantly higher chances of developing childhood leukemia than those not residing near such activity, according to research published Wednesday in Environmental Health Perspectives.
Despite the controversy surrounding this issue, local news and media outlets have been largely silent. Even the Federal, State, County, and City elected people have failed to speak out about this issue, neglecting to represent their constituents in the process. It begs the question: Why is the local media not covering this vital issue?
They have known this for years!
