As a physician, I pledged a solemn oath to protect the lives of my patients. The Environmental Protection Agency seems to have forgotten that its mission is also to protect. 

The EPA’s proposal to roll back regulations on methane emissions from the shale oil and gas industry (Sept. 11, “Trump Rollback Would Ease Rules on Climate-Changing Methane”) will most certainly lead to more birth defects, chronic disease and premature deaths as the explosive development of natural gas and petrochemical infrastructure in this region continues.

Study after study has confirmed that methane and other chemicals released by unconventional natural gas facilities, either accidentally or on purpose, lead to health-related issues and shorten lives — a fact the EPA itself readily admits. Fracked methane also accelerates global warming, which is damaging the planet’s climate system and threatens the safety and health of every human on this shining ball of blue. More than ever, we need stronger environmental protections and public health safeguards, not weaker ones.

EDWARD C. KETYER, M.D.
Peters
The writer is a pediatrician and board member of Physicians for Social Responsibility — Pennsylvania

First Published: September 14, 2018, 4:00 a.m.