Fire water fuels concern from EPA, Congress
By Investigative Reporter Heidi Hemmat KDVR Denver
February 20, 2010
The EPA in Texas is planning to put limits on what gas and oil drilling companies can release into the air, after tests showed high levels of the cancer causing chemical benzene in the air over one of the biggest natural gas fields in Texas. “Having Benzene in the air or water is a recipe for a public health disaster,” Environmental Hazards Investigator Adrienne Anderson says.
Now some Texas families want to know if Benzene is to blame for at least seven cases of Leukemia in children who live near the area.
“These are kids, they don’t smoke, they don’t come into contact with other hazards, and there are quite a few children coming down with Leukemia, and people coming down with kidney cancers and adrenal cancers,” says Anderson.
Anderson is helping some of the grass roots organizations in Texas, made up mostly of mothers, who are demanding change.
About Sharon Wilson
Sharon Wilson is considered a leading citizen expert on the impacts of shale oil and gas extraction. She is the go-to person whether it’s top EPA officials from D.C., national and international news networks, or residents facing the shock of eminent domain and the devastating environmental effects of natural gas development in their backyards.
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"Demanding" is right! Powerful people are not going to give up their profit unless it is demanded-first by citizens, then by the government. If we can't fight to protect ourselves, we can at least
fight for our children who are much more susceptible to toxic chemicals than we are. (Their cells are still reproducing/copying as thet grow.)
Thanks Sharon, as always, for the awesome reporting on your blog.
This is the best site, ever to show what is happening from shale gas drilling, production, processing, and transportation. And, it mostly bad for ordinary residents. Keep up the good work. The same bad stuff is going on in Big Booger!
Adrienne Anderson is good people. We were both a part of the National Toxics Campaign 20 years ago – still the best damn grassroots-enabling group ever assembled.
Sharon, if your paths cross, tell her hello for me – from one member of the John O'Connor fan club to another. Thanks.
It's so amazing to see the good people who give of their precious free time to help others.