Study: Fracking Chemical Disclosures Prompt More Cautious Behavior

A study of jurisdictions that require fracking companies to disclose the chemicals they use reveals that residents tend to take more precautions to avoid potentially contaminated water when they are made aware of the risks, reports Áine Doris in Chicago Booth Review.

Although the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) exempts fracking from the Safe Drinking Water Act, eighteen states require fracking operations to disclose the toxic chemicals they use. “The researchers find that those disclosures prompted residents of affected areas to take ‘defensive measures’ such as buying bottled water.”

The study found a 13 percent average increase in the consumption of bottled water between January 2006 and December 2019, “an indication that households responded to the public-information programs and took proactive measures to mitigate their risks and exposure to toxins.” Consumption rose the most in counties with full disclosure of toxic chemicals, but grew by almost the same amount in places where state laws allow companies to withhold some chemicals as ‘trade secrets.’

Ultimately, the study concludes that environmental disclosure programs can drive meaningful change in people’s behavior and risk response.