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<p>I have been asked to reply.</p><p> </p><p>Public Health England (PHE) has considered
the British Medical Journal (BMJ) editorial on Public Health England's draft report
on shale gas extraction: Mistaking best practices for actual practices, published
on 17 April 2014. PHE's response to the article was published on-line on 30 April
2014 and can be found here:</p><p> </p><p>www.bmj.com/content/348/bmj.g2728?tab=responses</p><p>
</p><p>PHE's response to the BMJ article states that the conclusion of the report
that risks from the process of shale gas extraction will be low if operations are
properly run and regulated was a considered judgement. PHE has identified those aspects
of operations that are considered to pose the greatest risks. PHE has made a number
of recommendations for the control of risks, as have others. If shale gas extraction
does take place, PHE will work with regulators to help ensure that environmental monitoring
and health surveillance programmes are implemented appropriately. PHE agrees with
Kovats <em>et al</em><sup> </sup>(Lancet 383, 757-8; 2014) on the potential for Health
Impact Assessments (HIA) to play a role in informing policy and local planning processes,
considering all issues associated with shale gas extraction which may affect health,
including Green House Gas emissions and climate change. PHE will seek to support HIAs
and will continue to evaluate evidence on health risks associated with shale gas extraction
and related technologies.</p><p> </p>
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