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An estimated 1.4 million Americans living near fossil fuel drill sites are in high-risk cancer zones

Dec. 18, 2018 By Rebecca McCarter

A Newsy feature-length documentary, ‘Blowout’ – in partnership with The Associated Press, The Center for Public Integrity and The Texas Tribune – traces the domestic and global impacts of U.S. oil and gas exports

CINCINNATI – A new American fossil fuel boom is ushering in an onslaught of health and climate problems from West Texas to Bangladesh, according to a documentary released today, part of a joint investigation.

In partnership with The Associated Press, The Center for Public Integrity and The Texas Tribune, Newsy’s feature-length documentary “Blowout” exposes the effects of a surge in U.S. oil and gas drilling and exports.

The new boom is good for business, but as domestic drilling continues to grow, the documentary reveals, an estimated 1.4 million Americans find themselves living in a high-cancer-risk zone within 500 feet of fossil fuel drill sites. And despite the growing scientific evidence of the impact of emissions from fossil fuels on the environment, the U.S. government is aggressively pushing sales of oil and gas exports across the world. Watch the “Blowout” trailer.

“We know U.S. crude oil production has doubled in the last decade, and natural gas exports have tripled,” said Zach Toombs, executive producer for Newsy’s documentary unit. “In ‘Blowout’ we trace the impact – from where these fossil fuels are pulled out of the ground to where they’re burned off and beyond – to expose the consequences on our health and the world’s climate, giving viewers a global view of what’s at stake.”

“Blowout” is the product of in-depth reporting spanning four countries, with filming in the U.S., Panama, India and Bangladesh. To see the entire project, visit newsy.com/blowout.

The documentary airs Tuesday, Dec. 18, at 9 p.m. Eastern on Newsy’s channel, which is available across the leading cable providers and over-the-top platforms including YouTube TV and Sling TV. To find all the ways to watch Newsy, visit newsy.com/platforms. Newsy is a wholly owned subsidiary of The E.W. Scripps Company (NASDAQ: SSP).

About Newsy
Newsy is the next-generation national news network that provides “news with the why,” built to inform and engage by delivering the top stories across every platform. Its content is available on cable; on over-the-top services including Hulu, Roku, Apple TV, Sling TV, Pluto TV, Amazon Fire TV and Google Chromecast; and on connected television including Xumo, Samsung, VIZIO and LG. Newsy is also available via its mobile apps and at newsy.com.

Media contact:
Kari Wethington, The E.W. Scripps Company, 513-977-3763, [email protected]