Published on January 27, 2014

Formaldehyde is a carcinogen known to cause leukaemia and rare nasopharyngeal cancers. It is extremely toxic, an allergen and genotoxin. Exposure to this dangerous chemical is believed to cause congenital malformation, low birth weight, abortion, infertility, DNA alteration and endometriosis.

Formaldehyde is used to a large extent in fracking- but the industry has never bothered to report the details of its use. The U.S. fracking industry was granted waiver from federal clean air and water regulations, which has exempted the industry from reporting about the chemicals it utilizes. However, fracking operations have resulted in high levels of formaldehyde in wastewater and ambient air emissions.

The fossil fuel industry has for years contested the claim that formaldehyde is a dangerous ingredient in fossil fuel production. Even the government has often supported the fossil fuel industry because of its vested interest. However, the time has come to reject fossil fuels and pave the way for alternative sources of energy.

Our society has derived numerous benefits from fossil fuels, but at what cost? This primary source of energy has opened the world of electricity, industrial power, transportation, medical applications etc., but has also been the key element behind war, political unrest, decaying environment, human rights abuses and deteriorating human health. Fossil fuels have put this entire planet at risk by causing greenhouse gas induced climate change.

We need to put an end to the use of fossil fuels before it’s too late.