Fracking and Children's Health
- Ohio Valley Allies
- Jun 23
- 4 min read
Childhood cancer, endocrine disruption, and the fight for environmental health. With Dr. Nicole Deziel
In Episode 8 of Exposure, we’re joined once again by Dr. Nicole Deziel, associate professor of epidemiology at Yale School of Public Health and co-director of the Yale Center for Perinatal, Pediatric, and Environmental Epidemiology. In this powerful follow-up conversation, we explore the alarming health risks tied to fracking — particularly for children — and examine the deeper flaws in America’s regulatory approach to toxic chemicals.
Fracking and the Rising Risk of Childhood Cancer
Dr. Deziel shares findings from her team’s Pennsylvania-based study, which showed that children born within 2 kilometers of active oil and gas wells had twice the odds of developing childhood leukemia. This research aligns with similar findings in Colorado, deepening concerns over fracking's impact on public health.
“Twice the odds is significant,” Deziel says. “Even though childhood cancer is rare, these consistent associations between proximity to fracking sites and leukemia can't be ignored.”
Jill and Stuart reflect on how these risks hit home. With young children of their own, they confront the impossible decision many rural families face: stay in a contaminated community or leave behind everything they’ve built.
A Broken System
Despite mounting evidence, U.S. regulatory systems lag far behind. Deziel explains how over 80% of chemicals linked to oil and gas operations — some of which are known carcinogens like benzene — have no cancer data at all. Thanks to outdated laws, many of these chemicals were “grandfathered in” when the EPA was formed in 1970.
“We operate under a system of innocent until proven guilty for chemicals,” she explains. “In contrast, Europe follows the precautionary principle — we could learn a lot from that.”
And even when harm is suspected, the oil and gas industry hides behind proprietary chemical lists, making it nearly impossible for researchers to fully trace exposure risks.
What about the kids?
Beyond cancer, Deziel highlights how endocrine disruptors — chemicals that mimic or block hormones — are linked to early-onset puberty, fertility issues, and rising pediatric thyroid cancers.
“Exposure windows during pregnancy or early childhood are incredibly sensitive,” she explains. “We see links to low birth weight, birth defects, and now more research on neurodevelopment and hormone disruption.”
But monitoring is woefully inadequate. Most EPA air monitoring stations are located in urban areas, leaving rural, extraction-heavy communities unprotected and uninformed.
The Invisible Toll of Fracking
As Stuart points out, the conversation around fracking often focuses on catastrophic outcomes — but what about the more subtle damage? Brain fog, fatigue, headaches, and hormonal imbalance are harder to measure but no less real.
Deziel agrees: “There’s biological plausibility for many more health outcomes. But the data just isn’t there yet. We need funding to study the full exposome — the totality of exposures across a person’s life.”
What Can be Done?
Dr. Deziel offers concrete advice for families stuck near infrastructure:
Use air purifiers with HEPA filters to reduce indoor pollutants.
Install drinking water filters, especially reverse osmosis systems.
Limit household chemical exposures by choosing cleaner personal care and cleaning products.
Support your body through good sleep, diet, and antioxidant-rich foods.
But the real solution, she stresses, must come from policy, not personal coping strategies. Jill adds, “We need to put pressure on our local and state leaders. This industry should not be allowed near schools or homes.”
A Call to Action
Dr. Deziel outlines what’s missing: multi-million-dollar studies to measure the full scope of chemical exposures in air, water, and human bodies. But funding for public health research pales in comparison to commercial science.
“We’re investing millions in shaving seconds off Olympic running times,” she says. “Imagine what we could do if we funded public health the same way.”
Conclusion
This episode is a sobering reminder that our regulatory frameworks are failing to protect our most vulnerable — our children. But it’s also a call to act. As Jill says:
“I do this for the children. Because I can’t live in this world unless I know I’m doing everything I can to leave it better for them.”
From fracking setbacks to full environmental monitoring reform, the fight continues. Knowledge is power — and thanks to Dr. Deziel and her students, that power is growing.
Citations and Resources:
Deziel NC, Clark C et al. (2022). Residential Proximity to Oil and Gas Development and Childhood Leukemia.
Living down wind _ Harvord School of Public Health
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