Scoping Meeting for Human Health Study Critique, January 2018, Boston, MA

The Health Effects Institute (HEI) Energy Research Program hosted its first public meeting to discuss the Energy Research Committee’s (the Committee) critique of the human health literature related to the development of oil and natural gas from unconventional resources (UOGD) across the United States. The Committee will systematically review the literature, examining the strengths and limitations of the epidemiologic literature and reaching conclusions about what it does and does not tell us about the potential health effects associated with UOGD. The Committee will identify knowledge gaps that could be filled with original research to address concerns about adverse effects on the health of people living in communities affected by UOGD.

This Scoping Meeting provided an opportunity for a wide range of stakeholders to engage with one another and share their recommendations for the Committee’s Critique. In addition, meeting participants heard ten speakers from federal and state government, nongovernmental organizations, community groups, industry, and academia, and engaged in a productive exchange with the Committee and other meeting participants about HEI’s plans for its systematic review of the health literature, its review of the exposure literature, and future research challenges and opportunities. The meeting agenda and presentations can be found below.