UNCONVENTIONAL (FRACKED) NATURAL GAS, CLIMATE CHANGE AND HUMAN HEALTH

The document outlines the dangers of hydraulic fracturing, noting that in 2018, more than two thirds of Canada's natural gas was "fracked gas," primarily from Northeastern BC. It details health risks including increased incidences of preterm birth, miscarriage, and childhood leukemia (ALL), as well as environmental threats such as water contamination and induced earthquakes. The text highlights that methane leaks from fracking are 86 times more harmful to the climate than CO2 over 20 years, undermining the concept of natural gas as a "bridge fuel." It concludes by urging Canada to implement a moratorium on new wells and develop just transition plans for workers.

• Fracking operations are linked to various adverse health outcomes, particularly regarding reproduction and childhood cancer. A 2016 review found "moderate evidence" for increased risks of preterm birth, miscarriage, birth defects, decreased semen quality, and prostate cancer. Additionally, some evidence suggests an increased risk of acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL) in children whose mothers lived near wells during pregnancy, with one study indicating these children were three to four times more likely to live in areas with active wells.
• The process of hydraulic fracturing causes significant environmental degradation and safety hazards. Over 1,000 chemicals are used in fracking fluids, some of which are suspected to cause cancer or disrupt hormones. The process is water-intensive—with US water use increasing three-fold since 2010 to 12 million gallons per well in 2018—and can lead to groundwater contamination and induced seismic activity, such as a 4.6 Richter scale event in North Montney, BC in 2015.
• Methane emissions from fracking undermine the role of natural gas as a transition fuel and threaten the goals of the Paris Agreement. Methane's global warming potential is 86 times that of carbon dioxide over a 20-year period, and fracking in North America is contributing to the global rise in methane emissions seen since 2007.
• Unconventional oil and gas development disproportionately impacts Indigenous people in Canada, who often already face poorer health status and rely on the land for their well-being.

APA

Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment (2020). UNCONVENTIONAL (FRACKED) NATURAL GAS, CLIMATE CHANGE AND HUMAN HEALTH. https://cape.ca/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/CAPE-Fracking-Bkg-EN.pdf

Chicago

Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment. UNCONVENTIONAL (FRACKED) NATURAL GAS, CLIMATE CHANGE AND HUMAN HEALTH. 2020. https://cape.ca/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/CAPE-Fracking-Bkg-EN.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment |title=UNCONVENTIONAL (FRACKED) NATURAL GAS, CLIMATE CHANGE AND HUMAN HEALTH |date=January 2020 |url=https://cape.ca/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/CAPE-Fracking-Bkg-EN.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{canadianassociationofphysiciansfortheenvironment2020unconventional, author = {{Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment}}, title = {{UNCONVENTIONAL (FRACKED) NATURAL GAS, CLIMATE CHANGE AND HUMAN HEALTH}}, institution = {Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment}, year = {2020}, month = jan, url = {https://cape.ca/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/CAPE-Fracking-Bkg-EN.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }