title: The importance of public health agency independence: Marcellus shale gas drilling in Pennsylvania.
abstract: Public health often deals with inconvenient truths. These are best communicated and acted on when public health agencies are independent of the organizations or individuals for whom the truths are inconvenient. The importance of public health independence is exemplified by the lack of involvement of the Pennsylvania Department of Health in responding to health concerns about shale gas drilling. Pennsylvania Department of Health involvement has been forestalled by the state governor, who has intensely supported shale gas development.
authors: Bernard D. Goldstein is retired.
authors: Bernard D
authors: BD
authors: Goldstein
mesh_terms: D019652:Extraction and Processing Industry; D006077:Government Agencies; D006801:Humans; D059206:Natural Gas; D010414:Pennsylvania; D057766:Policy; D011635:Public Health Administration; D013219:State Government
chemical_list: D059206:Natural Gas