Public Health Researcher Talks Health And Hydrofracking

By Zack Seward

Rochester, NY – Leading up to a two-day conference on the future of natural gas extraction in New York state, a public health researcher is giving a lecture in Rochester tonight. As the WXXI Innovation Trail's Zack Seward reports, some in the medical community say hydrofracking for natural gas could be a major public health issue.

Dr. Bernard Goldstein is a physician and public health researcher at the University of Pittsburgh.

He says that when hydrofracking begins in New York's Marcellus Shale, one thing is for sure.

"The major thing that we can expect is a surprise."

Goldstein says officials in Pennsylvania have largely been unable to understand the health implications of hydrofracking because development there has happened so quickly.

"We simply don't know enough about what's happening to be able to reassure people that this is something that is safe, that this is something that will not impact on their health," said Goldstein.

Goldstein says the potential health effects of hydrofracking are various and poorly understood. He says the key for New York state is to be prepared.

Goldstein will be speaking at the University of Rochester Medical Center at 7:30 Wednesday night.

The following day, he'll be joined by a number of other speakers in Geneva.

Hobart and William Smith Colleges is hosting a major conference on Marcellus Shale Development that kicks off on Thursday.