
Physicians in states with oil and gas production take note. A new study has found that air pollution from U.S. oil and natural gas production has a significant impact on the health of the state’s residents—contributing to thousands of early deaths and health flare-ups, including asthma—and health care costs to the tune of $77 billion.
A joint study by Boston University School of Public Health, the University of North Carolina Institute for the Environment, PSE Healthy Energy and the Environmental Defense Fund uncovered the disturbing results.
Oil and gas production accounts for the largest emissions of methane greenhouse gas and is a significant contributor of air pollution emissions. The study of methane emissions on the environment has been on the rise in recent years. However, there has not been enough research into its impact on the this industry on air quality and associated health impacts.
Study data from the 2016 National Emission Inventory examined the impact of fine particulate matter and nitrogen dioxide from the oil and gas sector in the U.S. in 2016 and compared it to the associated methane emissions. Air pollution in 2016 from the U.S. oil and gas sector accounted for 410 000 asthma exacerbations, 2,200 new cases of childhood asthma and 7,500 excess deaths. Nitrogen dioxide was the highest contributor to health impacts (37%) followed by ozone (35%), and then fine particulate matter (28%). The health impact of such air pollution was three times the estimated climate impact costs from methane leakage.
Currently, the states representing the largest oil and gas production include Texas, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Oklahoma and Louisiana.