The chemical in question is found in many everyday products. The FDA(that Federal level club) allows it for use as a food additive. But put that aside. Although it was found in parts per trillion, well below any health risk, it shouldn't be there.
How did it get there? Was it the well documented spill that occurred? Was it in the drilling mud? Was it part of the fracking mix? Was it from some other non gas extraction source(since this chemical is in a wide variety of products outside of the drilling field)? No one can tell you.
Put THAT aside.
The article states that it if it WAS from the gas extraction process, that wells are NOW constructed differently than what was done in that area at that time. They are NOW cased well below the thousand foot level that the wells in that area were at the time.
They also pointed to the odd geology of certain areas of PA. and now they have a better understanding of potential vehicles for movements of fluids underground.
So, according to the article, it seems no harm done, knowledge was gained to impact best practices, and they've ALREADY changed the way they do things to protect the environment(prior to even knowing about this chemical being in the water wells(that may or may not be from the gas extraction industry)).
And what does the story of cancer in a smallmouth have to do with this?
