Health and Safety

Learn about how the oil and gas industry impacts health and safety through FracTracker articles, maps, and imagery.

Health and Safety Risks

The FracTracker articles and maps below explore the ways that unconventional oil & gas development impact public health and safety, including air pollution, water contamination, pipeline incidents such as explosions, fracking-induced earthquakes, and more. We analyze many of these issues through an Environmental Justice lens, considering that marginalized communities are disproportionately impacted by health issues caused by oil and gas activities.

Image Gallery

Explore our images of health and safety issues related to energy exploration, extraction, production, and fossil fuel products and byproducts.

East Palestine Disaster

Explore an album of images related to the February 2023 Norfolk Southern train derailment in East Palestine, Ohio.

Related Articles

Studies Reveal Health Impacts from Fracking in Pennsylvania

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Studies in Pennsylvania find strong associations between hydraulic fracturing (“fracking”) and health risks, including respiratory issues and increased risk of childhood cancer.
Ted Auch, FracTracker Alliance, 2023

Off the Rails: An Exploration of the Train Derailment in East Palestine

FracTracker explores the environmental and community impacts of the Norfolk Southern train derailment in East Palestine, Ohio, in February 2023.
Tennessee Pipeline Incident by Ted Auch, 2022, with support from LightHawk.Ted Auch, FracTracker Alliance, 2022

2022 Pipeline Incidents Update: Is Pipeline Safety Achievable?

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This analysis provides a top-level summary of pipeline incidents reported to the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) and examines whether or not safe oversight of the industry is possible.
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