Neuhauser, A. (2014, October 30). Toxic Chemicals, Carcinogens Skyrocket Near Fracking Sites. Retrieved on November 23, 2014 from http://www.usnews.com/news/articles/2014 /10/30/toxic-chemicals-and-carcinogens-skyrocket-near-fracking-sites-study-says.

Dr. David Carpenter, director of the Institute for Health and the Environment at the University at Albany-State University of New York, has published an article studying the effects of fracking on humans. Poisonous chemicals were found near wells and fracking sites in Arkansas, Colorado, Pennsylvania, Ohio and Wyoming at levels that greatly exceeded recommended federal limits. Benzene and formaldehyde are chemicals that were the most common at these sites, and have also been linked to cancer.

There is a law known as the “Halliburton loophole”, which exempts all companies preforming oils and natural gas extraction from federal laws if they monitor and disclose the chemicals involved in the process. This defeats the whole purpose of having law to protect people. This law says that if you tell us what you are doing you can do it, even if it is harmful to the environment and people surrounding the area.