Episode 19: What does fracking have to do with plastic? Part 2 w/David Azoulay
The plastic lifecycle starts with oil and gas extraction and extends through manufacturing, consumer use, and waste management. David Azoula...
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Fracking and Health: Ask an Expert
TEDX conducts brief interviews with leading experts to get answers about health threats posed by unconventional oil and gas operations.
Episodes
12 episodes
Episode 18: What does fracking have to do with plastic? Part 1 w/Steven Feit
Ethane, a byproduct of natural gas extraction, is used in ethylene production, the primary feedstock for plastic manufacturing. Steven Feit,...
Episode 17: How does fracking wastewater threaten our health and the environment? w/Dr. Cozzarelli
Millions of barrels of flowback and produced water, laden with toxic chemicals, come to the surface during oil and gas production. Dr. Isabe...
Episode 16: What risks do pipelines pose to a community? w/Carl Weimer
The United States has over three million miles of pipelines used for gathering, transporting, and distributing natural gas and liquids, incl...
Episode 15: How does fracking contribute to ozone pollution? w/Lesley Fleischman
Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are released along with methane during oil and gas operations and contribute to local and regional ozone f...
Episode 14: What do biocides have to do with fracking? w/Dr. Thomas Borch
Biocides may be released into the environment in produced water through spills, surface water disposal, or reuse, potentially impacting publ...
Episode 13: Unconventional vs conventional oil/gas extraction: what's the difference?w/Dr. Ingraffea
As unconventional oil and gas extraction evolves, the scale of operations expands to include more wells, more chemicals, more sand, more emi...
Episode 12: What social stressors exist in communities impacted by fracking? w/Dr. Stephanie Malin
The uncertainty surrounding environmental and public health impacts of fracking can lead to individual and community stress. Dr. Stephanie M...
Episode 11: Is road spreading of oil and gas wastewater safe? w/Dr. William Burgos
“Beneficial reuse” of produced water, a byproduct of oil and gas development, includes road spreading for dust suppression and deicing. Dr....
Episode 10: Can environmental health research help communities impacted by fracking? w/Dr. Howard
As fracking operations move closer to populated areas, communities are concerned about potential impacts on their health and safety. Dr. Gre...
Episode 9: Can noise from fracking operations affect your health? with Dr. Michael McCawley
Industrial noise pollution is generated during development of an unconventional oil and gas well site. Dr. Michael McCawley, Clinical Associ...
Episode 8: How did the state of Maryland ban fracking? with Brooke Harper
While many NGOs have worked with communities to enact fracking bans, there has been less success on the state level. Brooke Harper, Maryland...