Is There a Link Between Fracking & STDs in Ohio?

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Does fracking cause sexually transmitted diseases (STDs)? It may sound like the beginning of a laugh line, but dedicated anti-drillers are deadly serious about trying to link an influx of “foreigners” (as OH Gov. John Kasich calls them) from other states into Ohio counties with shale drilling and a rise in STD rates in those counties. The theory goes that as these traveling workers arrive–something akin to carnival workers in anti-drilling lore–they bring with them STDs and they sleep around–a lot (according to the mythology). And they spread their nasty diseases everywhere they go. Reporters feed these myths with careless references to places like Carroll County, OH having a “spike” in STDs. Just one problem–when you dig into the evidence, it doesn’t back up the claim…

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