Frack-Rabinowitz-sm

The study's lead author was Peter Rabinowitz of the University of Washington's School of Public Health.

picture of Peter Rabinowitz

Adverse health symptoms, notably skin and upper respiratory problems, were more frequent among people who live near active hydraulic fracturing facilities for extracting natural gas, according to the largest study to date of human health problems associated with "fracking." 

Researchers at University of Washington and Yale University conducted a survey of nearly 500 residents of southwestern Pennsylvania, analyzing the frequency of health complaints against maps of natural gas wells in the area. The study was published in Environmental Health Perspectives. 

The study's lead author was Peter Rabinowitz, UW associate professor of environmental and occupational health sciences in the School of Public Health. 

Editors:

• Read the news release.
• Read the study.
• Please contact Leila Gray (206.685.0381; leilag@uw.edu) to interview Peter Rabinowitz.
• Please contact Brian Donohue (206.543.7856; bdonohue@uw.edu) about downloading segments of broadcast-quality video (1920x1080p) of Rabinowitz discussing the findings.

Flickr photos used under Creative Commons license: Connoquessing water photo by shadbushcollective; Dimock, Pa., photo by William Avery Hudson

News media coverage of this research:

U.S. News & World Report:  Respiratory, skin problems soar near gas wells, study says
KPLU Radio: Study raises questions about possible health hazards of fracking
USA Today  People near fracking wells report health woes
New Haven (Conn.) Register: Health problems found in people living near fracking wells