Fracturing Shale for Natural Gas or ‘Fracking’ involves injecting huge amounts of water containing chemicals deep into the ground in order to extract natural gas or oil from shale rock formations.

In October 2011, HEAL organized a seminar to discuss the health and environmental implications of shale fracturing for natural gas in Europe, related to both the exploration and exploitation phases.

Key issues related to health include the potential effects of water and land contamination, air pollution, noise, the release of radioactive substances and toxic heavy metals from underground, and accidents and damage associated with fires and explosions and earthquakes, as well as changes in land use and impacts on nature conservation and biodiversity.

In addition, fracturing for gas and oil represent further investment in fossil fuels, which continues greenhouse gas emissions and their contribution to climate change and its associated effects on health.

HEAL is calling for a moratorium on all exploration and exploitation licensing in all EU countries and a comprehensive review of EU policies which pertain to fracking.

We are working closely with partner organisations in Europe, the US, and elsewhere, including Sandra Steingraber and the Collaborative on Health and Environment. In the US, nearly 40% of all domestic natural gas is obtained by fracking.

More information

HEAL Presentation - Fracking from an NGO perspective: what’s at stake for health and environment?

Study - Impacts of shale gas and shale oil extraction on the environment and on human health

Book Review - Hydraulic fracturing of shale gas: a real scandal!