Cancer Clusters to Crackers: Dr. Nicole Deziel’s Groundbreaking Research on Fracking’s Health Impacts

In Episode 9 of Exposure, we sit down with Dr. Nicole Deziel, Associate Professor of Epidemiology at Yale and Co-Director of the Yale Center for Perinatal, Pediatric and Environmental Epidemiology. This episode traces the path of one of the most prominent researchers in the field of environmental health and fracking, from her Long Island childhood during a cancer cluster scare to her groundbreaking studies in the Ohio River Valley.

With humility, brilliance, and clarity, Dr. Deziel reveals how the science of exposure—long seen as the weakest link in environmental health—has become her life’s work. And her findings have transformed our understanding of fracking’s invisible toll on public health.

From Long Island to Yale: A Personal and Professional Calling

Nicole’s journey into environmental health science began early. Growing up on Long Island in the ’80s and ’90s, she witnessed a disturbing number of cancer cases in her community. Rumors swirled about possible causes: power lines, pesticides, even a local radiation lab. Then, during her senior year of high school, Nicole developed a rare but benign brain tumor. Doctors speculated it might have an environmental cause—though they couldn’t be sure. These twin experiences lit the fire that would shape her career.

She studied environmental science and public health at UNC Chapel Hill, then pursued her master's and Ph.D. at Johns Hopkins. There, she discovered a critical gap in the field: exposure assessment. “The weakest link in any study was always how we determined what people were exposed to,” she explains. “That’s what drew me in.”

Launching Her First Study—in the Heart of the Fracklands

In 2016, Nicole and her student Elise traveled to eastern Ohio, one of the epicenters of the fracking boom. Guided by cohost Jill Hunkler—a community organizer and fracking refugee—Nicole began her first field study in the region. It was a small pilot project: collect water samples, interview residents, and begin testing hypotheses about fracking’s impact on health and water quality.

The study found benzene, a known carcinogen, in private wells—along with other unusual contaminants. Though limited in size, the pilot laid the foundation for something much bigger: a $2 million EPA grant for expanded research.

Nicole’s study became one of the first federally funded investigations into the health impacts of fracking in the U.S.

Building a Body of Evidence

Over the last decade, Nicole’s team has published more than 30 studies. They’ve explored:
- Cancer risks and birth defects linked to oil and gas activity
- Drinking water contamination near frack sites
- The environmental justice implications of waste injection well siting
- The health risks posed by petrochemical infrastructure like the Shell ethane cracker plant in Beaver County, PA
“What we’ve seen in the past ten years is an explosion of scientific research—finally catching up to what communities have been experiencing,” Nicole explains. “There are now over 50 epidemiologic studies documenting adverse health outcomes near oil and gas sites, plus thousands of environmental monitoring and justice reports.”

Science as a Tool for Truth—Not Agenda

Throughout the conversation, Nicole is careful to stress her objectivity. “I wasn’t anti-oil and gas. I didn’t know what we’d find,” she says. That scientific neutrality helped her build trust across the political spectrum. Even residents who benefited financially from fracking opened their doors to her team.

But her work hasn’t come without risk. Early in her career, mentors warned her to avoid such a politically fraught topic. “They said I should establish credibility first before taking on something so controversial,” Nicole recalls. “But I thought—what’s the point of doing research if it’s not relevant to people’s lives?”

From Fracking to Plastics: A Dangerous Continuum

As Jill explains in the episode, the fracking boom didn’t just threaten water and air—it laid the groundwork for a massive buildout of the petrochemical industry. Crackers like the Shell plant in Beaver County take ethane from fracked gas and turn it into plastic. The promise of jobs has led to a push for more fracking, more infrastructure, and more environmental degradation.

Nicole’s research followed the trail. Her team examined pollution emissions from petrochemical facilities and found multiple carcinogens were among the most commonly reported pollutants. They also studied the siting of these plants, finding a pattern of placement in already overburdened communities—a textbook case of environmental injustice.

A Decade of Impact—And a Call to Action

As the episode closes, Nicole reflects on how far the science has come in just ten years. “The research community was caught behind,” she says. “But now we’ve built a voluminous body of work showing health harms.”

Still, she emphasizes that the fight is far from over.

Jill and Stuart echo this sentiment, calling on listeners to continue pushing for research, transparency, and accountability. “Nicole’s work gave our community hope,” Jill says. “It showed us that we weren’t crazy—and that someone cared.”

Conclusion

This episode of Exposure is a powerful reminder of why independent science matters—and what’s at stake when entire communities are left unprotected. Dr. Nicole Deziel’s story is one of courage, clarity, and commitment to the truth, no matter how inconvenient.

Fracking’s dangers aren’t theoretical. They’re measurable. And thanks to researchers like Nicole, they’re no longer invisible.

For more episodes and resources—or to get involved—visit Ohio Valley Allies. Let’s keep pushing the conversation forward.

Citations and Resources:

Yale School of Public Health: Study of environmental contaminants associated with fracking underway in Ohio

Yale News: $2 million EPA grant to study health effects of fracking

Farm and Dairy: Yale University studies fracking in Barnesville

Springer study on petrochemical development

ScienceDirect: Fracking exposure linked to health outcomes

BU report on oil and gas air pollution and asthma

EDF study on health risks from flaring

Harvard study: Increased mortality downwind of fracking

Disclaimer:

Exposure is an editorial and investigative journalism platform produced by Ohio Valley Allies. The views and opinions expressed by hosts and guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of the organization or its affiliates.

Our mission is to investigate and document the impacts of extractive industries—including oil, gas, petrochemicals, and plastics—through in-depth interviews, research, and storytelling. We aim to expose the truth behind these industries’ operations and consequences using good-faith inquiry, verified sources, and the protections afforded to journalists under the First Amendment of the United States Constitution.

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