An advocacy group composed of physicians is drawing attention to the consequences of industry beyond the known impact to property values and physical health.

In a new report, Physicians for Social Responsibility say that “fenceline communities” that are adjacent to high-polluting industries like factories, fracking, mining and processing plants are vulnerable to severe mental health challenges.

The group notably took a stand against Gov. Josh Shapiro’s Lightning Plan, which aims to foster energy production by streamlining new projects through a central board rather than maintain local control of development decisions. They highlighted environmental justice zones in which the community members most impacted already feel left out of the conversation.

“For too long, polluting industries ha

See Full Page