While natural gas is seen as an economical solution to the nation”™s energy problem, David Brown a Fairfield University faculty member said there are ethical considerations that he feels government officials are ignoring.
For the last two years Brown has led a public health investigation in southwest Pennsylvania where heavy fracking for natural gas may be the cause of serious health effects seen near gas sites. The team has been treating severe skin rashes, headaches, nausea and respiratory problems, as well as helping residents limit exposure to gas byproducts in the air, water and soil.
Brown, who teaches environmental ethics, says he has no legal agenda and doesn”™t take a position on whether natural gas is good or bad. However he did say he doesn”™t believe town or state governments across the country have done enough to address possible health side effects or to warn residents about the unknown risks that go into gas extraction and distribution.
“I”™m not really opposed to natural gas, I”™m opposed to poorly functioning government,” Brown said. “I don”™t think they”™ve given the kind of thought to what they”™re doing as I would expect them to do.”
Connecticut may not have plans to tap into its own shale basin, but transporting gas into the state comes with its own set of risks, whether at compressor stations or landfills where potentially harmful waste will be disposed. Brown said he believes there needs to be a clearer definition of how the gas will be brought in and disposed of.
“The problem with all this information is the failure of the public health community in towns and states to look into these effects and follow them up,” Brown said.
