Watterson Andrew, Dinan William
1 University of Stirling, UK.
New Solut. 2017 May;27(1):68-91. doi: 10.1177/1048291117698175. Epub 2017 Mar 21.
The evidence on public health regulation of the unconventional gas extraction (fracking) industry was examined using a rapid evidence assessment of fifteen case studies from multiple countries. They included scientific and academic papers, professional reports, government agency reports, industry and industry-funded reports, and a nongovernment organization report. Each case study review was structured to address strengths and weaknesses of the publication in relation to our research questions. Some case studies emphasized inherent industry short-, medium-, and long-term dangers to public health directly and through global climate change impacts. Other case studies argued that fracking could be conducted safely assuming industry best practice, "robust" regulation, and mitigation, but the evidence base for such statements proved generally sparse. U.K. regulators' own assessments on fracking regulation are also evaluated. The existing evidence points to the necessity of a precautionary approach to protect public health from unconventional gas extraction development.
通过对来自多个国家的15个案例研究进行快速证据评估，审视了非常规天然气开采（水力压裂法）行业公共卫生监管方面的证据。这些证据包括科学和学术论文、专业报告、政府机构报告、行业及行业资助报告，以及一份非政府组织报告。每个案例研究综述的结构都旨在探讨该出版物相对于我们研究问题的优势和不足。一些案例研究直接或通过全球气候变化影响强调了该行业对公共卫生固有的短期、中期和长期危害。其他案例研究则认为，假设行业采用最佳实践、“强有力的”监管和缓解措施，水力压裂法可以安全进行，但此类说法的证据基础通常很薄弱。英国监管机构对水力压裂法监管的自身评估也得到了评估。现有证据表明，有必要采取预防措施，以保护公众健康免受非常规天然气开采发展的影响。
