CONTACT: Sarah McBride
Program Coordinator, Media and Public Engagement
smcbride@momscleanairforce.org
617-918-7241
Last week, the University of Pittsburgh released a series of studies that associate natural gas operations, such as fracking wells, to an increased risk of asthma exacerbations and childhood cancer cases. The data make the strongest connection between natural gas operations and worsened asthma. In response, our Ohio River Valley Organizer Rachel Meyer released the following statement:
“My family and I live in Beaver County, Pennsylvania, surrounded by polluting oil and gas operations. As someone living with asthma, I worry about the impact on my lungs from simply spending time in our garden or going for a walk. As a parent, I am concerned about how air pollution affects my four year old daughter’s developing lungs and her health.
“The findings of these studies are deeply upsetting, but they don’t come as a surprise. We’ve known for years that air pollution from the oil and gas industry can have significant health impacts on our families and have demanded the oil and gas industry take responsibility. My hope is that this new research will be a catalyst for our leaders to hold the oil and gas industry accountable for the health impacts we are seeing in frontline communities and to curb oil and gas pollution now, so we can secure a healthier tomorrow for our families.”