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Dear Governor Wolf, As doctors, nurses, researchers, and other health professionals, we are deeply concerned about the growing threat that hydraulic fracturing (known as fracking) poses to public health in Pennsylvania. Fracking operations use toxic chemicals, generating millions of gallons of wastewater that can be laced with cancer-causing and even radioactive material. The fracking process also releases harmful pollutants into the air we breathe, including asthma-inducing irritants and carcinogenic volatile organic compounds (VOCs). These toxins put Pennsylvania’s most vulnerable populations – particularly children – at heightened risk. Because children are still undergoing developmental changes, their respiratory, immune, and nervous systems are especially susceptible to permanent damage from fracking chemicals. This is amplified by the fact that children spend considerably more time outdoors than adults, increasing their exposure to harmful fracking pollution. Across Pennsylvania, children are spending significant parts of their days in the shadow of fracking. Hundreds of fracking wells have been permitted within one mile of schools and daycare centers throughout the state, putting children on the frontlines of the intensive industrial activities that accompany this dangerous drilling practice. Further, hundreds of environmental violations have occurred at these facilities, thus intensifying the risk that fracking poses to children in the Commonwealth. We strongly believe that fracking activities must be kept away from the places where our children live, learn, and play. To this end, we are calling on you to establish a mandatory one-mile setback zone from schools, playgrounds, and day care centers. As health experts, we are eager to lend our expertise to this pressing issue. We know that with your help, we can tackle this threat to our communities. Sincerely, Donald Abramowitz Sadia Akhtar Kristeen Alaz Environmental Health and Public Health Student Pre-Medical Student Safety Officer Temple University Thomas Jefferson University Bryn Mawr College Cara Altamuro Gina Alvarez Sarah Amanullah Radiology Student Radiology Student Medical Student Thomas Jefferson University Thomas Jefferson University Thomas Jefferson University Dilru Amarasereva Dilru Amarasereva Samantha Arnao Thomas Jefferson University Thomas Jefferson University occupational therapy student Hospital Hospital Thomas Jefferson University Jen Arnold Fatmata Bah Julie Becker Occupational Therapy Student Public Health Student PhD, MPH, MA Thomas Jefferson University Temple University PSR Philadelphia Laura Been Jenna Begme Allegra Bermudez Assistant Professor of Pre-Medical Student Public Health Student Psychology Thomas Jefferson University Temple University Haverford College Cordelia Biddle Peter Block Scott Borovich Occupational Therapy Student Medical Student Public Health Student Thomas Jefferson University Thomas Jefferson University Temple University Jesse Boyd Peter Brah Lorenzo Braghieri Logistic Technician Pre-Medical Student Surgery Student Thomas Jefferson University Sidney Kimmel Medical Thomas Jefferson Hospital Hospital College Rickie Brawer Maria Budney David Buckler PhD, MPH Pharmacy Student BA, EMT-B PSR Philadelphia Thomas Jefferson University Dan Bui Eric Bull Chris Burba Medical Student Medical Student Pre-Medical Student Thomas Jefferson University Thomas Jefferson University Thomas Jefferson University Coryn Campbell Ilya Buynevich Ashley Cafferty Family Therapy Masters Professor Pre-Medical Student Student Temple University Thomas Jefferson University Thomas Jefferson University Elizabeth Centuan Raaj Chanda Emma Cassidy Medical Student Doctor Public Health Student Thomas Jefferson University Thomas Jefferson University Temple University Hospital Hospital Alexander Chiem Steven Chemtob Kayla Ciliento Nurse Professor Occupational Therapy Student Thomas Jefferson University Temple University Thomas Jefferson University Hospital Massa Cisse Kaitlyn Clarkson Kiwah Claw Public Health Student Public Health Student Pre-Medical Student Temple University Temple University Thomas Jefferson University George Clement Dana Constantino Kathryn Corby Medical Student Radiology Student Physician Thomas Jefferson University Thomas Jefferson University Retired Physician Adam Corson-Finnerty Corey Curran MA, MSW Linnea Cripe Nutrition Student Physicians for Social Pre-Medical Student Penn State Milton S. Hershey Responsibility, Philadelphia Thomas Jefferson University Medical Center Chapter Corey Curran Natasha Dalseth Nicholas Davatzes Nutrition Student Professor Professor Penn State Milton S. Hershey Temple University Temple University Medical Center Maxime Derenoncourt Lindsay Devlin Benjamin Dezutter Public Health Student Radiology Student Public Health Student Temple University Thomas Jefferson University Temple University Susan Dickey Benjamin Dezutter John Do PHD, Registered Nurse Public Health Student Medical Student Temple University College of Temple University Thomas Jefferson University Health Professio Susan Donojhe Maeve Doolan Erika Dobson Nurse Public Health Student Occupational Therapy Student Thomas Jefferson University Temple University College of Thomas Jefferson University Hospital Health Professions Kait Dooley Rosemarie Dooling Kate Dowlny Physicians Assistant Student Clinical Nurse Physicians Assistant Student Thomas Jefferson University Bryn Mawr Hospital Thomas Jefferson University Sarah Durante Amanda Drop Emanuela Dylvien Doctor Public Health Student P.H.D Student Thomas Jefferson University Temple University Thomas Jefferson University Hospital Bari Eichelbaum Vivian Eliopoulos Rana Elmekadem Nursing Student Nursing Student Pharmacy Student Thomas Jefferson University Thomas Jefferson University Thomas Jefferson University Elle Fagan Shanita Fields Marisa Fassnacht Public Health Student Public Health Student Public Health Student Temple University College of Temple University College of Temple University Health Professio Health Professio Nina Fortuna Montida Fleming Colleen Flynn Family Therapy Masters Medical Student occupational therapy student Student Thomas Jefferson University Thomas Jefferson University Thomas Jefferson University Allison Foster Denise Fourmer Elizabeth Gallagher nurse Pharmacy Student Public Health Student Thomas Jefferson University Thomas Jefferson University Temple University Hospital Anna Gasparro Assistant Professor, Registered Rebecca Geardino Nadia Ghebre Nurse Public Health Student Public Health Student Temple University College of Temple University Temple University Health Professio Elizabeth Gordon Lauren Gianchetti Visiting Assistant Professor of Public Health Student Liam Glowacki Psychology Temple University Haverford College David Grandstaff Kayla Gray Judy Grosser Professor Public Health Student Case Manager Temple University Temple University Clara Haignere Molly Grove Ellen Guazman Professor, Masters of Public Physicians assistant student Professor Health Thomas Jefferson University Temple University Temple University College of Health Professio John Harding Jamillah Harris Kathryn Hartsock professor Public Health Student Student Temple University Temple University Thomas Jefferson University Anna Hershey Alice Hausman Marissa Heller Nurse PhD, MPH Occupational Therapy Student Thomas Jefferson University PSR Philadelphia Thomas Jefferson University Hospital Lisa Hosteher Lorie Hincken Jen Hock Registered Nurse Manager of Pharmacy Occupational Therapy Student Pennsylvania State Nursing Merck Thomas Jefferson University Association Maisy Hughes Catherine Hughes Josephine Hwang Family Therapy Masters Physical Therapy student Medical Student Student Thomas Jefferson University Thomas Jefferson University Thomas Jefferson University Leslie James Augustine Jabathy Laura James Medical Technician Public Health Student Nurse University of Pennsylvania Temple University Gettysburg Hospital Hospital Erin Johnson Monika Jelic MPH, MSN, RN Hannah Kafisheh Professor, Registered Nurse Physicians for Social Pre-Medical Student Temple University College of Responsibility, Philadelphia Thomas Jefferson University Health Professio Chapter Emily Keshner George King Nancy Keough Professor, Physical Therapist Staff registered nurse- medical Thomas Jefferson University Temple University College of surgery Hospital Health Professio St. Luke's Health Initiatives Brenna Klhalen Jessica Kovach Amber Kuestner Occupational Therapy Student Professor Nursing Student Thomas Jefferson University Temple University Thomas Jefferson University Karishma Kurowski Emily Kukuruck Meagan Larsen Doctor Physicians Assistant Student Nursing Student Thomas Jefferson University Thomas Jefferson University Thomas Jefferson University Hospital Him Suem Law Natalie Lautman Nicholas Lawson Nursing Student Public Health Student Public Health Student Thomas Jefferson University Temple University Temple University Hospital David Lear Justin LeBlanc Dasom Lee Nursing Student Medical Student Pharmacy Student Thomas Jefferson University Thomas Jefferson University Thomas Jefferson University Deb Lennon Kevin Li Jay Lesher Nurse Practitioner Medical Student Registered Nurse Planned Parenthood- Thomas Jefferson University Thomas Jefferson University Pennsylvania Hospital Laura Marzano Kemper Shalini Maitra Khamera Manders Assistant Athletic Trainer and Medical student Public Health Student Lecturer Thomas Jefferson University Temple University Bryn Mawr College Kerri McCarty Anna Mcgibbon Terry McLaughlin Pre-Medical Student Public Health

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