An eagerly awaited health study regarding the safety of fracking has been released. The study, conducted by consulting firm ICF International, found that oil a gas drilling caused health risks at distances greater than the currently established “setback” distance of 500 feet from single family homes and 11oo feet from high occupancy buildings. The study found that there were negative health effects from fracking ranging from 300 feet to 2000 feet. “Exposure to chemicals used in oil and gas development, such as benzene, may cause short-term negative health impacts…during ‘worst-case’... Read More

City of Boulder is warning residents to keep children and animals away from harmful blue-green algae that has been spotted in Wonderland Lake and Thunderbird Lake. This means that there is no swimming, wading, boating, or animals allowed in this water. Fishing is still allowed, but city officials warn that any fish caught should be thoroughly cleaned and guts should be discarded of. Blue-green algae, also known as cyanobacteria, grow during the summer in slow-moving lakes or ponds. Some cyanobacteria species can produce cyanotoxins during algal blooms which can be harmful at elevated levels if... Read More

The oil and gas industry in the United States is exponentially growing due to the use of a relatively new technology called hydraulic fracturing, also known as fracking. In fact, the United States is on its way to becoming the number one exporter of oil in the world.  While fracking in the United States has allowed for increased oil and gas production, it is far from benefitting the United States in other important sectors. Fracking is done by injecting a mixture of dangerous chemicals, water and sand into shale deposits at high temperatures.  This mixture is then pulled back to the surface... Read More