Fracking, Clean Water and Good Research

Last night, I attended a Twitter party in support of research to discover if there is a link between fracking and hormone disrupting activity. Here is a run down of what you should know especially if you live in a state that currently embraces fracking (like Pennsylvania) or is on the road to it (like Illinois).

What are Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals?

Hormone or Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals (EDCs) “alter normal hormone reactions.” These disruptions can change the way a fetus, baby or child develops and can have lasting disruptive effects on fertility, ability to carry a pregnancy, and more. Check out the Endocrine Disruption Exchange for everything you need to know.

What is fracking?

Fracking is short for hydraulic fracturing, the most common practice to withdraw natural gas from the earth.

Does fracking contaminate drinking water?

The NRDC Blog has written an article called, “Incidents where hydraulic fracturing is a suspected cause of drinking water contamination.” with a state-by-state incident breakdown. It’s troubling to see SO many incidents in my home state of Pennsylvania. Texas doesn’t fare well either.

Research

Researchers Susan Nagel, PhD, and University of Missouri graduate student Christopher Kassotis are researching fracking health issues – read the full article at Flour Sack Mama.  Their project is now seeking funding to collect and process water samples, test for hormone disruption, analyze chemicals and interview residents who live near affected water. The study made the cover of the Journal of Endocrinology (PDF). The team will study sex hormones, estrogens and androgens. Susan C. Nagel, PhD, Associate Professor, Obstetrics, Gynecology and Women’s Health, has researched hormone disruptors for 20 years and will lead the team. Visit the page to meet the rest of the research team and see their qualifications.

More Resources on Fracking, EDCs and Toxins

• Here is a map of fracking zones (PDF) in the U.S. as of 2012. Do you live near one?
• Check out Sandra Steingraber, who is leading the anti-fracking fight in New York state.
• Some good news on how the science of epigenetics can help us – rather than make us worry.
• Check out Toxic Baby movie and app, a worthy cause by my friend, Penelope Jagessar Chaffer, that exposes the toxins our families, including pregnant women, are exposed to daily. The app will let you track toxins and avoid fracking zones.
• Andrea Donsky at Naturally Savvy wrote an expose on EDCs at the toy store.
• Check out Lindsay Dahl’s article on Toxic Chemicals in Food Packaging.
• Learn more about lead poisoning in our children at Lead Safe America.
• Read Moms Clean Air Force interview with Susan Nagel.
• If you haven’t yet, watch Gasland and Gasland 2. (Warning: neither is for the faint of heart.)
• Ready to take action? Moms Clean Air Force has pulled together a list of tweetable facts about natural gas. You can also sign their petition to protect families from toxic chemicals. Spread the word to help fund Nagel’s research.

The party was hosted by Flour Sack Mama, who you definitely should follow! Here’s what she said about this important topic:

I knew these scientists were doing important research and I visited the University of Missouri with the intention of simply telling their story.  When I realized they were resorting to crowdfunding to gather enough data to convince the National Institutes of Health to fund their next phase of endocrine disruptor research, I decided as a mother that I had to support this effort in any way I could.  I took a break from the monthly #CleanCouponing chats I’d been hosting on Twitter and decided to make this a special #CleanWater chat instead, in support of #MizzouFrackingResearch.

Check out @FlourSackMama‘s #CleanCoupong chats. (I know I will!)