Lithium plans could prove risky

As both a resident of Northeast Pennsylvania and the executive director of Physicians for Social Responsibility Pennsylvania, I was alarmed by your May 15 article, “NEPA could become a major supplier of lithium for batteries.” While the idea of extracting lithium from fracking wastewater may sound like a “clean” win for energy, the article fails to acknowledge the serious environmental and public health risks associated with this process.

Fracking wastewater isn’t just salty water with some lithium in it. It’s a toxic stew that can contain radioactive materials like radium, uranium, and radon — by the way NEPA has some of the highest radon levels in the state.  It also contains heavy metals such as arsenic and mercury; carcinogenic hydrocarbons like benzene and toluene and high levels of salts that can devastate water supplies and ecosystems. On top of that, fracking fluids often contain chemical additives including PFAS “forever chemicals” that are linked to long-term health impacts.

The presence of these substances raises serious concerns for our region. Drinking water contamination from spills or leaks threatens both human and animal health. Ecosystems suffer when wastewater is improperly disposed of, damaging aquatic life and soil. Air quality can also be compromised when volatile compounds, including methane, are released into the atmosphere.

And after the lithium is extracted, what happens to the remaining toxic waste? Where does it go, and how is it handled? Is it being discharged into Pennsylvania’s waterways, potentially harming my community and others?

Turning fracking waste into a so-called resource without a full accounting of its hazards is not a solution. It’s a dangerous game being played with NEPA’s health and environment.

Previously published in The Citizens Voices May 22, 2025