Fracking and Birth Defects

08 May Fracking and Birth Defects

A new study sheds light on the connection between fracking and birth defects. If you live in an area populated with fracking wells and have a child who was born with a birth defect, we may be able to help you recover compensation.

Hydraulic fracking is a means of extracting gas from the earth’s subterranean levels by injecting a cocktail of water, sand and chemicals into the ground. As the demand for cheaper gas grows, fracking wells are springing up in every part of the country; Texas is no exception.

Colorado Study

Recently, a new study pointed to the fact that living near an oil fracking well could cause pregnant mothers to give birth to children who have birth defects. The study, published by the U.S Department of Environmental and Occupational Health collected evidence from numerous rural Colorado fracking sites and communities.

The study found that mothers who lived in close proximity to oil wells had a much higher chance of giving birth to children with congenital birth defects.

Fracking Chemicals Affect Hormones

At the same time, numerous other studies have shown that the chemicals involved in the fracking process could distort various vital body hormones. These hormones are closely tied to fertility, the development of cancer and birth defects.

Dr. Susan Nagel of the University Of Missouri School Of Public Health led this subsequent study and found out that more than 700 chemicals are used in the fracking process, an inordinate number which also posed a health risk to a community’s water supply.

Environmental Consequences

Fracking is also known to produce methane, a potent greenhouse gas which could contribute to global warming. There are hundreds of thousands of fracking wells all over the country, meaning that methane production is only set to go up in the coming years.

Recently, a Texas lobby group protested against fracking initiatives in the state, stating that these operations were directly related to the occurrence of earthquakes within their community. If it continues unchecked, these earthquakes could increase in intensity, causing emotional distress and even structural damage to houses. The city of Denton recently adopted a temporary ban on fracking until September of 2014, and may become the 1st Texas city to ban fracking.

We May Be Able to Help!

Rasansky Law Firm is committed to protecting the rights of individuals in its community. If you’ve suffered any adverse effects due to fracking, please call us today at 1-877-659-1620 for your free consultation. You can also send us an email via the sidebar of this page. We have a team of experienced personal injury lawyers ready to fight for your rights every step of the way. We look forward to your call.