A Health Impact Assessment of Unconventional Oil and Gas in Scotland: Volume 1 – Full Report

The Scottish Government (SG) requested an assessment of the potential impacts on health of developing shale oil and gas and coal bed methane (known as Unconventional Oil and Gas (UOG)) in Scotland. The assessment was to consider a “broad range of health implications” arising from UOG development ​​​and was to suggest options to mitigate potential hazards and health impacts. 

The assessment was to adopt a “generic” rather than a local community perspective and was not expected to predict the scale of potential impacts on any specific communities in Scotland. 

​The main aim was to provide a generic level overview of the current scientific understanding relating to the health impacts of UOG, in a Scottish context, in order to assist the Scottish Government in the development of future UOG policy.