Warning regarding the potential health impacts of fracking on New Brunswickers

A letter from the Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment (CAPE) and other health professionals to the Premier of New Brunswick, warning against the pursuit of shale gas production due to documented adverse health impacts associated with hydraulic fracturing (fracking).

• Medical evidence indicates a strong correlation between hydraulic fracturing (fracking) and several severe adverse health outcomes for industry workers and residents of nearby communities. These include increased risks of spontaneous miscarriages, preterm births, babies born with congenital heart defects, neural tube defects, limb reduction defects, and spina bifida, as well as higher mortality risks, reduced life expectancy, and increased incidences of cancer, cardiac, and respiratory diseases.
• Fracking is linked to specific pediatric health crises, including increased rates of childhood asthma, asthma-related deaths, and a higher risk of children developing acute lymphoblastic leukemia.
• The health risks are exacerbated by the use of over 1,000 different chemicals in fracking, many of which lack basic toxicological information. Additionally, the processing and transport of shale gas via LNG plants and terminals release pollutants such as volatile organic compounds, particulate matter, nitrogen oxides, sulfur dioxide, and carbon monoxide, which are associated with respiratory illnesses, heart disease, and certain cancers.
• The document cites specific regional studies to support its warnings: in Alberta, Canada, proximity to high densities of hydraulically fractured wells was associated with increased risks of spontaneous preterm birth and small for gestational age birth; in Pennsylvania, children near unconventional gas development had 2–3 times the odds of developing acute lymphoblastic leukemia; and in Oklahoma, unconventional well activity positively impacted mortality rates and incidences of cancer, cardiac, and respiratory diseases.
• The authors argue that the New Brunswick government should legislate a ban on hydraulic fracturing to protect public health, noting that the province's health care system is already under considerable strain and that fossil fuel emissions contribute to climate change, which the Lancet identifies as the leading global threat to human health.

APA

Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment (2024). Warning regarding the potential health impacts of fracking on New Brunswickers. https://cape.ca/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/CAPE-NB-Letter-to-Premier-on-fracking-health.pdf

Chicago

Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment. Warning regarding the potential health impacts of fracking on New Brunswickers. 2024. https://cape.ca/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/CAPE-NB-Letter-to-Premier-on-fracking-health.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite press release |author=Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment |title=Warning regarding the potential health impacts of fracking on New Brunswickers |date=9 May 2024 |url=https://cape.ca/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/CAPE-NB-Letter-to-Premier-on-fracking-health.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@misc{canadianassociationofphysiciansfortheenvironment2024warning, author = {{Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment}}, title = {{Warning regarding the potential health impacts of fracking on New Brunswickers}}, publisher = {Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment}, year = {2024}, month = may, url = {https://cape.ca/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/CAPE-NB-Letter-to-Premier-on-fracking-health.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }