Maternal and Child Health Implications of Unconventional Natural Gas Development

Background: Natural gas extraction using hydraulic fracturing (HF) has increased the opportunity for contamination of air and water near drilling-dense regions across the country. The health implications of this practice have not been thoroughly studied. However, the chemicals used in fracturing fluid and naturally occurring metals and radioisotopes released during the fracturing process have been associated with adverse reproductive and developmental health impacts. A recent study from Colorado determined that maternal residential proximity to natural gas development was associated with the prevalence of congenital heart defects and possibly neural tube defects (McKenzie et al. 2014).

Methods: We conducted a systematic review of published research concerning HF chemicals and their link to reproductive and developmental health impacts such as infertility, loss of embryo or fetus, impaired fetal growth, low birth weight, premature or delayed sexual development, birth defects and preterm birth.

Results: We (1) identified priority chemicals of concern associated with reproductive and developmental impacts; (2) determined the mechanisms of these impacts; (3) identified clearly defined health outcomes; and (4) identified existing research gaps and priority areas for future focus.

Conclusions: Policymakers, regulators, scientists and the medical community need tools and resources in order to make appropriate policy decisions and identify knowledge gaps that will inform future research.  In the arena of HF, we aim to address this need by educating stakeholders about the potential health impacts for women and children based on current science and health literature.