News

Colorado’s top medical officer is once again debunking reckless claims from political activists about fracking and public health.

As the Greeley Tribune reports, Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) executive director and chief medical officer Dr. Larry Wolk says that when it comes to oil and natural gas development impacting public health, “we don’t see anything to be concerned with.” From the Greeley Tribune:

“I’m not going to tell anybody to go drink a pint of liquid petroleum or stand over an active well site and wave the fumes in to breath them in,” Wolk said. “Nobody would argue that this stuff isn’t toxic, but it’s all about exposure to toxins, and we don’t see anything to be concerned with at this point in time.” (Emphasis added)

Dr. Wolk’s opinion is backed up by state health data cited in the story showing that areas of Colorado where a majority of fracking is taking place are not registering higher levels of negative health conditions, and in some instances are even lower than those reported where little or no fracking occurs. Also from the Greeley Tribune:

“Despite public fears that oil and gas development is causing asthma, birth defects and cancer, statistics from the health department show oil and gas has not affected the general health of Weld County, which produces 90 percent of the state’s oil.” (Emphasis added)

[…]

“The statistics show that even though Weld has about 70 percent more active wells than other northern Colorado counties, it does not have more health issues.”

“Wolk said he believes there is not causal relationship between development and chronic diseases.”

The Tribune continues: