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GLOBAL NEWS LAST CHANCE FOR NATURAL HEALTH INDUSTRY IN EUROPE LAST CHANCE FOR NATURAL HYDRAULIC FRACTURING IS POISONING THE WATER TABLE HEALTH INDUSTRY IN EUROPE A; hydraulic fracturing expands across the globe to recover gas reserves in s a consequence of moves to ard-to-reach rock formations, there is a growing concern about the health A\harmonise global food laws, {and environmental impacts of this practice. In the USA, the Environmental concerted attempts to contro] Protection Agency (EPA) is undertaking a scientific study at the request of consumer access to natural heath |Congress to investigate the impacts that hydraulic fracturing may have on products are being made by drinking water. governments and transnational Hydraulic fracturing ("fracking") injects chemicals at pressure into shale corporations. At a global level, the formations to release natural gas. The chemicals include benzene, ethylbenzene, toluene, boric acid, monoethanolamine, xylene, diesel-related organics, methanol, formaldehyde, hydrochloric acid, ammonium bisulphate, 2-butoxyethanol, ethylene glycol, propylene glycol and many more. The former environmental quality analyst for Michigan's Department of| Natural Resources, Dr Chris Grobbel, claims there are 900 fluid formulations used for fracking, each with 600 ingredients. "The fluid chemistry and toxicity {are] really driven by the naturally occurring chemicals that are coming up at toxic levels with the return flow," Grobbel said. "It brings with it dissolved hydrocarbons—benzene, thylene, ethylbenzene, xylene isomers being the four that are typically focused on. It brings up heavy metals, it can bring up radionucleotides including radium-226 and other naturally occurring materials that are at toxic levels at the surface. And of course you've got all the additives. The chemicals transform the fluid into a frictionless mass that works its way deep into the earth, prying open tiny cracks that can extend thousands of feet; particles of sand or silicon wedge inside the cracks, holding the earth regulatory framework is being developed through the Codex Alimentarius Commission. The system of control essentially moves natural health products from a category of food to products requiring pre-market authorisation, where the authorisation systems being used or proposed are very onerous and so lock out large numbers of products. All this is being enacted under the often conflicting guises of "consumer protection" and “free trade", nearly always creating a open." situation where big business gets ndustry claims that the fluids can’t travel to the surface, although Richard what it wants while our freedom to |Ranger, Senior Policy Advisor for the American Petroleum Institute, admits choose natural health products is [that "[t]here are no studies to support industry claims". dramatically curtailed. Each gas well consumes 100,000 gallons of fracking fluids plus four million Europe is becoming the central _|gallons of water. The amount of wastewater left underground is a function of| platform for global harmonisation of local geology. The State Geologist of Alabama reported in 1997 that "almost ood laws relating to natural health. Jal fluid [was] recovered", with the EPA reporting returns of 15 per cent to 41 Much of the legal infrastructure that [per cent. There is no known treatment for recovered fracking wastewater. is set to cause major problems Following fracking in Pavilion, Wyoming, the EPA tested local wells. Results downstream is already in place, but |released on 31 August 2010 showed groundwater and 17 out of 19 wells as yet to be felt fully as key parts of contaminated with adamantanes, tri (2-butoxyethal) phosphate, gasoline- he European regulations and_|range organics, diesel-range organics, caprolactam, methane, benzene, directives are in a transitional phase. cyclohexane, methylcyclohexane and propane. Residents participating in a Unless pro-natural health Jhealth study reported 128 symptoms and diseases, most of which are linked to interests continue to influence the /fracking. They reported the affected areas smelled like rotten eggs, and they! process positively, we could see _ suffered headaches, burning eyes, itching skin, high blood pressure, memory massive restrictions on allowed _ loss and fatigue, and 80 per cent reported respiratory problems. ingredients, on maximum permitted On 1 September 2010, the EPA started issuing warnings to people with doses, and on what can be said |contaminated wells, advising them to shower and do laundry only in well- about any product with beneficial _|ventilated areas. properties. Investigations conducted by Propublica.org have already found more than Readers interested in learning |1,000 reports of underground water and well contamination from fracking. In more about the assault upon health dozens of homes in Ohio, Pennsylvania and Colorado, gas migrated through freedoms in their region are [underground cracks into basements and wells. encouraged to get informed, then "The drilling equipment and the wells also affect air quality, as the material join and support active and effective {returning to the surface can include carbon monoxide, methane and other organisations such as the one below. gases,” according to Dr Grobbel. "Greenhouse gases, acid rain—causing gases, (Source: Alliance for Natural Health Int. asthma-causing particulates are all associated with fracking.” [Europe], http://www.anh-europe.org/ (Source: Halifax Media Co-op, 4 November 2010, http://halifax.mediacoop.ca/story/just- campaigns/freedom-health-choice) fracks-ma’am/5054) NEXUS ¢ 9 DECEMBER 2010 - JANUARY 20II www.nexusmagazine.com