Resumen de EPA claim that fracking does not impact drinking water criticised
A study published by the US Environmental Production Agency (EPA) in June last year asserting that hydraulic fracturing (fracking) has not had a "widespread, systemic" impact on drinking water has been described by scientists as too vague to serve the public.
"It still comes down to what does systemic mean and what does widespread mean," Susan Brantley, director of the Earth and Environmental Systems Institute at the University of Pennsylvania and a member of the review panel, said. "In this sentence, it's not clear," she added.
Despite the EPA's findings, New York State banned fracking the same month the report was published, after a seven year review owing to health and environmental concerns. Potential public health risks listed in the report include particulate and volatile organic compound (VOC) respiratory problems, climate change, drinking water pollution from faulty well construction, surface spills and earthquakes.
