Allegheny County health board considers fracking impacts March 19, 2026

Allegheny Front

Committee chair Laura Dagley, a registered nurse and writer for Physicians for Social Responsibility, told the board that they’ve been looking at known carcinogens from fracking, like benzene, as well as volatile organic compounds and fine particulate matter, and using an Environmental Protection Agency tool to estimate the air quality and health benefits.

“And there was analysis done looking at what would happen if you added one well pad and then took away one well pad to an area in terms of outcomes,” Dagley said. “[The analysis is] looking at emergency room visits for respiratory issues, infant mortality, asthma onset, etcetera.”