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

This executive summary from the Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment (CAPE) outlines the environmental and human health risks associated with hydraulic fracturing (fracking) for natural gas, specifically focusing on impacts in Canada and the United States. It argues that methane leaks undermine the role of natural gas as a bridge fuel and calls for a moratorium on new fracked gas wells in Canada.

• Fracking poses significant risks to air and water quality. Over 1,000 chemicals are used in fracking fluids, some of which are suspected to cause cancer, disrupt hormones, or negatively affect reproduction and child development. Air pollutants from well sites include radon, benzene, polyaromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), and heavy metals. In the US, water use for fracking increased three-fold since 2010, reaching an average of 12 million US gallons per well in 2018.
• There is evidence linking fracking and general oil and gas development to adverse reproductive and childhood health outcomes. A 2019 review found the strongest evidence for asthma exacerbations, adverse impacts on pregnancy, and birth outcomes such as preterm births and high-risk pregnancy. A 2016 review noted moderate evidence for increased risks of 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.
• Fracking activities are linked to seismic instability and occupational hazards. In Canada, fracking has caused earthquakes, including a 4.6 magnitude event in North Montney, BC, in 2015. In the United States, the risk of death for workers in the oil and gas sector is seven times the average risk for industry as a whole, with risks including explosions, fires, and chemical exposure.
• The climate impact of natural gas is exacerbated by methane leaks during extraction. Methane has a global warming potential 86 times that of carbon dioxide (CO2) over a 20-year period. The document states that fracking in North America is contributing to rising global methane emissions since 2007, which hinders the ability to meet Paris Agreement goals.
• Unconventional oil and gas development disproportionately affects Indigenous people in Canada, who often have poorer health status and rely on the land for well-being. The document recommends a moratorium on new fracked natural gas wells in all Canadian provinces and territories, the phasing out of existing wells, and the implementation of Just Transition plans for workers.

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} }