Is urban gas drilling dangerous to schoolchildren?

by Don Young of FWCanDo

USA Today reported Monday that exposure to cancer-causing toxins for students near industrial areas is much worse than expected.

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USA Today reported Monday that exposure to cancer-causing toxins for students near industrial areas is much worse than expected. According to the Fort Worth Star-Telegram, elementary schools in Midlothian, Texas "rate worst in the USA for exposure to cancer-causing toxins. The city has three cement plants." The USA Today study is based on data collected before gas drilling became widespread in the Barnett Shale.

Now, consider this: There are nearly 10,000 producing gas wells in the Barnett Shale and thousands more have been permitted by the Texas Railroad Commission. In Fort Worth alone, over 1,000 natural gas wells have been drilled inside the city limits within the past three years, dramatically increasing air pollution by at least three-fold, according to a peer-reviewed study by Dr. Al Armendariz of Southern Methodist University.

As he pointed out in a recent lecture, Barnett Shale drilling activities are the largest source of smog (NOx and VOC), greenhouse gases and air toxic compounds in North Central Texas.

How large?

* Substantially greater than all area airports, including, Dallas-Fort Worth Airport.

* Substantially greater than all the motorized vehicles in a nine county region.

* Greater than three cement kilns? Good question.

Read Dr. Armendariz' complete report here (PDF). (In a hurry? Read Executive Summary on p.1 and scroll to the Conclusions on p. 34:).

Question #1: If three cement kilns are putting kids in north central Texas at unusually high risk of cancer, asthma and other health concerns, what will 15,000 new gas wells do to them?

Question #2: Why are Fort Worth elected officials and the Texas Railroad Commissioners still issuing drilling permits?

Question #3: Why aren't they enacting a moratorium on ALL drilling until the men and women who own and operate this dirty and dangerous industry clean up their act?

Pegasus News content partner - FWCanDo

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jjackson8, says:

I read the Star Telegram article, and it does NOT say 'elementary schools in Midlothian, Texas "rate worst in the USA for exposure to cancer-causing toxins."' nor does the USA Today article that started this say any such thing. Where did you get that nonsense? A bit over-the-top in your advocacy, I think.

The USA Today article is based on computer modelling, not actual testing for toxins...so what have you got here? A supposition that cement kilns pose a risk to children and that gas wells will make it worse? Have some mercy on parents for a change - they've got plenty enough to stress about these days without you inventing issues.

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1 year ago
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jjackson8, says:

Looking more closely, there is obviously something wrong with the USA Today computer modelling. I looked up schools in Midlothian, and J.A. Vitovsky Elementary is listed TWICE, with two different addresses on the same street. One is ranked in the 1st percentile and the other in the 6th??? How can the same school be ranked so differently based on a block or two difference in the address?