Dr. David Wheeler
Nova Scotia Expert Panel on Hydraulic Fracturing
Cape Breton University
P.O. Box 5300, 1250 Grand Lake Road
Sydney, N.S. B1P 6L2
Submission to the Nova Scotia Expert Panel on Hydraulic Fracturing
April 24, 2014
Dear Dr. Wheeler and Panel Members,
We are writing to you as concerned citizens about hydraulic fracturing in this province. As faculty and
nurse educators in the School of Nursing at St. Francis Xavier University we have a broad perspective on
health and the factors that determine health. We understand health as the physical, mental, social and
spiritual well being of individuals, communities and populations which is determined by a range of
factors known as the social determinants of health. It is from this perspective that we want to raise
concerns about the potential effects of hydraulic fracturing on the communities and diverse populations
of Nova Scotians.
Following our preliminary review of the literature on hydraulic fracturing, including a number of articles
listed on your website, we realized that there is a very significant lack of data about the potential effects
of fracturing on the very complex interactions of physical, social, economic and environmental aspects
of communities. 1,2,3,4. As Dr. Cleary emphasizes in her report to the government of New Brunswick,
“Few studies have been undertaken that consider the overall potential impacts on health and the
physical and social environments over the entire lifetime of the industry”, pg 204.
A glance at the Research Reports and Documents section of your website indicates that there is growing
anecdotal evidence of the impact of hydraulic fracturing on the water, air quality and physical health of
people. Some common symptoms identified among people who live close to fracking sites include
fatigue, burning eyes, dermatological irritation, headaches, upper respiratory, gastrointestinal,
musculoskeletal, neurological, immunological, sensory, and vascular, bone marrow and urologic
problems, and risk of endocrine disruption.5 However, there are to date no comprehensive
epidemiological studies planned or underway that will conclusively verify or deny that the full hydro
fracturing process harms humans, animals or the environment.6
While drilling companies argue that there are significant positive economic effects for hydraulic
fracturing, some authors argue that the cost for the state, social services and the impacts on the
environment have not been considered.7 It has been identified by a number of authors that the impact
of the “Boom Bust Cycle” or “Boomtown Effects” has not been taken into consideration from a health or
economic perspective. 8,9. There are numerous social problems that can arise such as sexually
transmitted diseases, domestic violence, lack of sufficient decent housing and increased cost of living, as
well as the effects on the noise and pollution levels due to increased traffic. The potential for unequal
distribution of the benefits of unconventional gas extraction can lead to conflicts in the communities.
Since there are many gaps in the data on the effects of hydraulic fracturing on the natural environment
and on human physical, social, mental, and economic health, many authors argue that the
“precautionary principle” should be applied to any future decisions about fracking in Nova Scotia. Many
more longitudinal epidemiological studies on the physical and social environments should be conducted
by independent researchers. In addition there needs to be more comprehensive analysis and forecasting
of potential health effects in communities that are close to drilling sites. As the Chief Medical Officer for
New Brunswick recommended, a Health Impact Assessment (HIA) should be conducted to identify these
potential impacts on the health of the communities and states.
We would also recommend, in addition to the HIA, a community driven health impact assessment,
which is a method that allows the voice of the community to be heard in decisions about fracturing in or
near their communities. This methodology, which was developed in Northeastern Nova Scotia in the mid
1990s by the People Assessing Their Health (PATH) network, has been used by communities around the
globe and across Canada to determine the potential positive and negative effects of a policy or program.
10
As has been noted in this letter, there is significant concern among many groups and authors about the
complex nature of this industry on the health of people, communities and the environment that
hydraulic fracturing should not occur in Nova Scotia until much more data is collected by various
methods. For this reason we implore you to consider a recommendation for a 10 year legislated
moratorium to be imposed until the potential effects of this unconventional method of gas extraction is
fully understood. The risk to the health of people, the environment and future generations of
proceeding with the development of fracking is far too great for the purported benefits.
Thank you for allowing us to put forth our concerns to this panel and for the work that you are doing on
this contentious issue.
Sincerely yours,
Colleen Cameron
Nurse Educator
accamero@stfx.ca
867-3895
Yvonne Fraser
Nurse Educator
yfraser@stfx.ca
867-3879
Ellen MacFarlane
Professor
emacfarl@stfx.ca
867-2487
Patti Hansen-Ketchum
Professor
phketchu@stfx.ca
867-5027
Marian MacLellan
Professor
mmaclell@stfx.ca
867-5081
Marie Arnott
Professor
marnott@stfx.ca
867-4981
Wendy Panagolopoulos
Nurse Educator
wpanagop@stfx.ca
867-3391
Barb Sproull-Seplaki
Professor
bseplaki@stfx.ca
867-3449
Ann Marie Dobbin
Nurse Educator
adobbin@stfx.ca
867-3390
Cathy MacDonald
Professor
cdmacdon@stfx.ca
867-4537
Hope Graham
Professor
hgraham@stfx.ca
867-2434
Jane Moseley
Professor
jmoseley@stfx.ca
867-3582
Susan Wood
Nurse Educator
swood@stfx.ca
867-5354
Elizabeth McGibbon
Professor
emcgibbo@stfx.ca
867-5429
Karen Briand
Lecturer
kbriand@stfx.ca
867-5852
Patsy MacDonald
Program Coordinator
pmacdona@stfx.ca
867-5186
Joanne Whitty-Rogers
Professor
jrogers@stfx.ca
867-3629
1
M. L Finkel, J. Hays, The implications of unconventional drilling for natural gas: a global public health concern,
Public Health 127 (2013) 889 - 893
2
American Public Health Association Policy Statement Database, the environmental and occupational health
impacts of high-volume hydraulic fracturing of unconventional gas reserves. (2012).
3
J. L., Adgate, B. D. Goldstein, & L. M. McKenzie, Environmental Science & Technology, Potential public health
hazards, exposures and health effects from unconventional natural gas development
4
Cleary, E., Chief Medical Officer of Health’s Recommendations Concern Shale Gas Development in New
Burnswick, Office of the Chief Medical Officer of Health New Brunswick, Dept of Health, 2012.
5
MacDermott-levy, R., Katkins, N., Sattler, B., Fracking, the environment and health; New energy practices may
threaten public health. American Journal of Nursing, 2013, Vol 113, No. 6.
6
Bernard D. Goldstein, E. Ferrell Bjerke & Jill Kriesky, Challenges of Unconventional Shale Gas Development: So
What's the Rush, 27 Notre Dame J.L. Ethics & Pub. Pol'y 149 (2013).
Available at: http://scholarship.law.nd.edu/ndjlepp/vol27/iss1/7
7
Bernard D. Goldstein, E. Ferrell Bjerke & Jill Kriesky, Challenges of Unconventional Shale Gas Development: So
What's the Rush, 27 Notre Dame J.L. Ethics & Pub. Pol'y 149 (2013).
Available at: http://scholarship.law.nd.edu/ndjlepp/vol27/iss1/7
8
Cleary, E., Chief Medical Officer of Health’s Recommendations Concern Shale Gas Development in New
Burnswick, Office of the Chief Medical Officer of Health New Brunswick, Dept of Health, 2012.
9
American Public Health Association Policy Statement Database, the environmental and occupational health
impacts of high-volume hydraulic fracturing of unconventional gas reserves. (2012).
10
C. Cameron, Community Driven Health Impact Assessment, Coady International Institute, St. Francis Xavier
University, Antigonish, NS, B2G 2W5. Found at http://www.coady.stfx.ca/education/certificates/health_2014/