In the past decade , fossil fuel giants were grant permit to usesubstances that can potentially degrade intoPFAS — toxic compounds known as “ forever chemical substance ” — for fracking at crude oil and throttle oil production sites across the US , according to inner written document from the Environmental Protection Agency ( EPA ) .
The internal documents were obtained under the Freedom of Information Act by the nonprofit grouping Physicians for Social Responsibility . Their full study , relinquish July 12 , can befound here .
PFAS are have it off as “ perpetually chemical ” because they are known to accumulate in the human eubstance and do not dampen down in the surround . They have also been unite to a host of adversehealth impacts , let in low infant nascence weights , effects on the immune system , cancer , and hormone disruption .
Despite beingaware of their jeopardy , the Obama - era EPA approved threesubstances that can cheapen into PFASfor usage in hydraulic fracturing , better known as “ fracking , ” for oil and flatulence at 1,200 wells in Arkansas , Louisiana , Oklahoma , New Mexico , Texas , Wyoming between 2012 and 2020 .
The report even contend that the approval of these smutty chemicals was not fully disclosed to the public , but EPA were well cognizant of their likely risks . In one of the records , EPA regulator write : “ EPA has concern that these debasement product will persist in the surround , could bioaccumulate or biomagnify , and could be toxic ( PBT ) to citizenry , wild mammal , and chick base on data on analog chemicals , let in PFOA and [ REDACTED ] . ”
“ The evidence that the great unwashed could be unknowingly exposed to these extremely toxic chemical through oil and gas operation is disturbing , ” Dusty Horwitt , researcher and attorney who is currently confab with PSR , said in astatement . “ consider the terrible account of pollution tie in with PFAS , EPA and res publica governments need to move quickly to ensure that the public knows where these chemicals have been used and is protected from their impacts . ”
Frackingis an oil colour and gas descent technique developed in the late 1940s to realize access to fogy energy deposits previously unobtainable to drilling performance by blasting through rock with millions of gal of water and other human - made chemical substance . Not only does this process release significant amounts ofmethane , which is a potent greenhouse gas , it also track down the risk of contamination of groundwater and bringing toxic chemicals to the surface . On top of this , fracking has been incur to generate an increase in the level ofradioactive constituent in the airnearby .
It ’s no secret that fracking is dreadful for the surroundings , but add potential PFAS into the mix makes things even worse . PFAS were widely used for decennium in a variety of home items , from non - stick cooking utensil and stain - resistive carpeting to fire - fighting froth . Their use in oil and gasolene operations , however , has not been previously publicise until now .
“ It ’s very worrying to see the extent to which critical information about these chemical is shielded from public view , ” added Barbara Gottlieb , PSR ’s Environment & Health Program Director . “ The lack of transparentness about fracking chemical puts human wellness at risk . "
