BRIEFING NOTE A Call to Action on Health and Healthcare System Impacts of LNG and Hydraulic Fracturing

A briefing note by the Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment (CAPE) calling for a moratorium on new liquefied natural gas (LNG) and hydraulic fracturing (fracking) projects in British Columbia until a comprehensive, independent health impact assessment is conducted.

• Hydraulic fracturing and LNG operations in British Columbia are linked to severe health risks, including increased rates of preterm birth, low birth weight, birth defects, childhood leukemia, asthma, and cardiovascular disease. Research specifically identified elevated carcinogens in the air and tap water of First Nations women living near fracking operations, as well as substances in the urine and hair of pregnant women linked to adverse birth outcomes.
• The LNG industry is placing significant strain on healthcare systems in rural areas, particularly in Dawson Creek, where nearly half of the family physician workforce (at least seven doctors) has left. These physicians cited the health and community impacts of fracking, including risks to their own families, as the primary reason for their departure.
• Regulatory failures have led to inadequate monitoring and public notification of pollution. Flaring during the commissioning of LNG projects can be at least three times higher than during regular operations, yet these emissions are not accounted for in environmental regulation assessments. In October 2025, LNG Canada experienced a 60-fold surge in flaring, but the public was not advised for four months.
• LNG development creates social and safety risks for frontline and Indigenous communities. Industrial work camps are associated with increased rates of human trafficking, exploitation, and gender-based violence and sexual harassment against Indigenous women, girls, and 2SLGBTQQIA+ people. Additionally, the influx of transient workers is linked to higher rates of crime, substance use, and STIs.
• The document highlights the intersection of fossil fuel extraction and climate-related health crises in Canada. It notes that 619 people died during the 2021 heat dome in B.C. and that smoke from 2023 wildfires may have contributed to 70,000 premature deaths across North America and Europe. Without emissions reductions, climate change is projected to cost the Canadian healthcare system an additional $110 billion annually within 25 years.

APA

Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment (2026). BRIEFING NOTE A Call to Action on Health and Healthcare System Impacts of LNG and Hydraulic Fracturing. https://cape.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/Briefing-Note_Health-Impacts-of-Fracking-and-LNG-in-British-Columbia_2026-03-30_CAPE-BC.pdf#new_tab

Chicago

Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment. BRIEFING NOTE A Call to Action on Health and Healthcare System Impacts of LNG and Hydraulic Fracturing. 2026. https://cape.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/Briefing-Note_Health-Impacts-of-Fracking-and-LNG-in-British-Columbia_2026-03-30_CAPE-BC.pdf#new_tab.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment |title=BRIEFING NOTE A Call to Action on Health and Healthcare System Impacts of LNG and Hydraulic Fracturing |date=March 2026 |url=https://cape.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/Briefing-Note_Health-Impacts-of-Fracking-and-LNG-in-British-Columbia_2026-03-30_CAPE-BC.pdf#new_tab |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{canadianassociationofphysiciansfortheenvironment2026briefing, author = {{Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment}}, title = {{BRIEFING NOTE A Call to Action on Health and Healthcare System Impacts of LNG and Hydraulic Fracturing}}, institution = {Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment}, year = {2026}, month = mar, url = {https://cape.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/Briefing-Note_Health-Impacts-of-Fracking-and-LNG-in-British-Columbia_2026-03-30_CAPE-BC.pdf#new_tab}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }