Exposure to hydraulic fracking activities during pregnancy is attributed to community-level stressors. The stressors include degradation of the natural environment and neighborhoods, like toxic wastewater production, and an increase in truck traffic which harm women mentally.
A new study led by a researcher at Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health identifies a link between proximity to hydraulic fracking activities and mental health issues during pregnancy. Results appear in the journal Environmental Research.
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‘Mental Health issues such as anxiety and depression common among pregnant women residing in proximity to fracking sites.’
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The researchers looked at 7,715 mothers without anxiety or depression at the time of conception, who delivered at the Geisinger Health System in Pennsylvania between January 2009 and January 2013. They compared women who developed anxiety or depression during pregnancy with those who did not to see if the women's proximity to hydraulic fracturing activity played a role. Hydrofracking locations were available through public sources.
They found that for every 100 women, 4.3 additional women would experience anxiety or depression if they lived in the highest quartile of exposure compared to the other quartiles. The prevalence of anxiety or depression during pregnancy was 15 percent in the highest quartile, compared to just 11 percent in the lower three quartiles. The risk appeared greater among mothers receiving medical assistance (an indicator of low income) compared to those who did not: the authors observed 5.6 additional cases of anxiety or depression per 100 exposed women. They found no relationship between anxiety or depression during pregnancy and preterm birth and reduced term birth weight (an earlier study the research team found a link between proximity to hydrofracking and these adverse birth outcomes).
![Pregnant Women Living Near Fracking Wells Have Higher Concentrations of Metals: Study]( "Pregnant Women Living Near Fracking Wells Have Higher Concentrations of Metals: Study")
Pregnant women's exposure to environmental contaminants in northeastern British Columbia is higher compared to women living in other areas, finds a new study.
First author Joan Casey, PhD, assistant professor in the Department of Environmental Health Sciences, points to several possible reasons why living near fracking sites could lead to mental health problems in women. "Fracking activities may act as community-level stressors by degrading the quality of the natural environment, neighborhoods, such as by the production of toxic wastewater and increases in truck traffic, leading residents to feel a lack of control that harms their health," says Casey. "Another possibility is that air pollution from the sites could be directly contributing to mental health problems in this vulnerable population. Future research could examine other potential factors like air quality, noise, light pollution, psychosocial stress, and perception of activities."
Source: Eurekalert
Pregnant Women Living Near Fracking Wells Have Higher Concentrations of Metals: Study
Pregnant women's exposure to environmental contaminants in northeastern British Columbia is higher compared to women living in other areas, finds a new study.
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First author Joan Casey, PhD, assistant professor in the Department of Environmental Health Sciences, points to several possible reasons why living near fracking sites could lead to mental health problems in women. "Fracking activities may act as community-level stressors by degrading the quality of the natural environment, neighborhoods, such as by the production of toxic wastewater and increases in truck traffic, leading residents to feel a lack of control that harms their health," says Casey. "Another possibility is that air pollution from the sites could be directly contributing to mental health problems in this vulnerable population. Future research could examine other potential factors like air quality, noise, light pollution, psychosocial stress, and perception of activities."
Source: Eurekalert
Air Contamination Near Fracking Sites is a Result of Operational Inefficiencies
Highly variable contamination events registered in and around unconventional oil and gas developments are the result of operational inefficiencies.
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Fracking Chemicals Linked to Altered Hormone Levels in Mice
Female mice that were exposed to commonly used fracking chemicals in utero showed signs of reduced fertility, altered development of ovarian follicles.
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