Une transition fracturée : changements climatiques, santé et fracturation hydraulique

This executive summary from the Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment (CAPE) outlines the environmental and health risks associated with hydraulic fracturing (fracking) for natural gas extraction. It highlights significant concerns regarding water and air pollution, reproductive health, pediatric cancers, and climate change, specifically the role of methane emissions. The document calls for a moratorium on new fracking projects in Canada and a phased elimination of existing wells to meet Paris Agreement goals.

• Hydraulic fracturing in Canada is a significant part of the country's energy production, with Canada ranking as the fourth largest natural gas producer globally. In 2018, more than two-thirds of Canada's natural gas was extracted via fracking, with activity concentrated primarily in northeastern British Columbia.
• Fracking poses severe risks to human health and the environment. Over 1,000 different chemicals are used in fracking fluids, some of which are known or suspected carcinogens or endocrine disruptors. Air pollutants from well sites include radon, benzene, heavy metals, and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). Water risks include high consumption—averaging 12 million US gallons per well in the US in 2018—and the contamination of surface and groundwater.
• There are documented links between fracking and adverse health outcomes, particularly regarding reproduction and pediatric health. A 2019 systematic review linked fracking to pregnancy risks, premature births, and asthma exacerbation. A 2016 review found a moderate level of confidence that exposure is associated with increased risks of miscarriage, congenital anomalies, decreased sperm quality, and prostate cancer. Additionally, some evidence suggests an increased risk of acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) in children whose mothers lived near wells during pregnancy.
• Fracking contributes to climate change through the release of methane, which has a warming potential 86 times higher than carbon dioxide (CO2) over a 20-year period. Methane leaks during drilling and extraction in North America are contributing to a global increase in methane emissions since 2007, hindering the achievement of Paris Agreement objectives.
• The document recommends four urgent actions for Canada: implementing a moratorium on new fracking projects across all provinces and territories, creating plans to phase out existing wells to meet Paris Agreement commitments, conducting health and equity impact assessments to prioritize well closures, and establishing transition plans for affected workers and communities.

APA

Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment (2020). Une transition fracturée : changements climatiques, santé et fracturation hydraulique. https://cape.ca/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/CAPE-Fracking-Bkg-FR.pdf

Chicago

Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment. Une transition fracturée : changements climatiques, santé et fracturation hydraulique. 2020. https://cape.ca/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/CAPE-Fracking-Bkg-FR.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment |title=Une transition fracturée : changements climatiques, santé et fracturation hydraulique |date=January 2020 |url=https://cape.ca/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/CAPE-Fracking-Bkg-FR.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{canadianassociationofphysiciansfortheenvironment2020une, author = {{Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment}}, title = {{Une transition fracturée : changements climatiques, santé et fracturation hydraulique}}, institution = {Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment}, year = {2020}, month = jan, url = {https://cape.ca/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/CAPE-Fracking-Bkg-FR.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }