Oil and gas account for a large percentage of the world's energy consumption, and the search for new ways to extract both from the earth is a global quest. Fracking is viewed as an energy game-changer but is a controversial topic about which there is much misunderstanding. This unbiased work was written to bring clarity to the issues. Under the guidance of an internationally recognized public health expert, this book provides a comprehensive look at unconventional natural gas development from many different perspectives.--BOOK FLAP.

Potential and known health impacts associated with unconventional natural gas extraction /Jerome A. Paulson and Veronica Tinney -- The public health risk of endocrine disrupting chemicals / Adam Law -- Impacts of shale gas extraction on animal health and implications for food safety / Michelle Bamberger and Robert E. Oswald -- The importance of health impact assessments / Liz Green -- Natural gas development and its effect on air quality / Nathan P. DeJong, Roxana Z. Witter, and John L. Adgate -- Implications of unconventional gas extraction on climate change: a global perspective / Philip L. Staddon and Michael H. Depledge -- Community impacts of shale-based energy development: a summary and research agenda / Kathryn J. Brasier and Matthew Filteau -- Risks beyond the Well Pad: the economic footprint of shale gas development in the United States / Susan Christoherson -- The regulation of shale gas development / Kate Sinding, Daniel Raichel, and Jonathon Krois -- The ethics of shale gas development: values, evidence, and policy / Jake Hays and Immaculada de Melo-Martin -- An Industry perspective on the benefits and potential community health risks related to unconventional resource development / Dennis J. Devlin -- The geology and sustainability of shale / J. David Hughes.