Fractured: Harmful Chemicals Haunt Pennsylvanians Surrounded By Fracking

"We tested families in fracking country for harmful chemicals and revealed unexplained exposures, sick children, and a family's "dream life" upended."

"WASHINGTON COUNTY, Pa.—In the summer of 2019, 13-year-old Gunnar Bjornson spent most days banging on his drums, playing video games, antagonizing his siblings, wandering outdoors, and scrounging for junk food in his home's mostly healthy kitchen.

Gunnar is tan and blond with bright blue eyes and all the charisma required to survive being the younger of two middle children in a big family. He's the household entertainer, constantly cracking jokes and falling into contagious giggling fits.

Gunnar lives with his mom, dad, older brothers and younger sister about 35 miles south of Pittsburgh in the aptly-named community of Scenery Hill, where narrow country roads wind through shady woods that open up onto hilltop vistas of rolling fields. The hills are peppered with farmhouses, fruit orchards, and fields of corn and squash. The roadsides are punctuated by little white churches, farm stands, and dirt driveways marked with hand-painted signs like 'The Jones's' and 'Hidden Family Farm.'"

Kristina Marusic reports for Environmental Health News March 1, 2021.

Part 3: "Fractured: Distrustful of Frackers, Abandoned By Regulators" (EHN)

Part 4: "Fractured: Buffered From Fracking But Still Battling Pollution" (EHN)

Portal Page: "Fractured: The Body Burden Of Living Near Fracking" (EHN)