Air Pollution from Oil and Gas Operations Affects Minority Communities

According to new research, air pollutants stemming from oil and gas operations in the US are responsible for approximately 91,000 premature births and a host of health issues each year, with racial and ethnic minorities facing the greatest impact.

The study, released recently, highlights that outdoor pollutants like particulate matter (PM 2.5), nitrogen dioxide (NO2), and ozone disproportionately affect Black, Asian, Native American, and Hispanic communities.

Despite the US having a significant oil and gas industry, the related air pollutants and their health consequences have been inadequately characterized, the researchers noted. Their goal was to evaluate severe outcomes such as asthma and early deaths.

“What we found was striking. One in five premature births and adult health issues associated with particulate contamination are linked to oil and gas,” said Karen Vola, who was the lead author while at the University of London.

Vola also mentioned that nearly 90% of new pediatric asthma cases due to nitrogen dioxide exposure were traced back to this industry, adding that these findings are particularly alarming.

For their investigation, scientists employed advanced computer models to analyze air pollution generated by oil and gas activities and to identify related racial disparities across the US in 2017.

The team tracked contaminants released during each major phase of fossil fuel production: exploration and extraction (upstream), transport and storage (midstream), and refinement or conversion to petrochemical products (downstream).

Ultimately, they quantified the annual burden, attributing 91,000 early deaths to emissions of PM 2.5, NO2, and ozone. They also linked 10,350 premature births to PM 2.5 exposure and identified 216,000 incidents of childhood asthma as well as 1,610 cases of lifetime cancer attributed to various harmful air pollutants.

The findings pointed to a huge health burden, with gases used in homes, industrial, and commercial sectors contributing significantly to health issues, accounting for 96% of all reported cases.

California, Texas, New York, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey emerged as the states with the highest burdens from all stages of oil and gas operations.

However, researchers noted that racial minorities faced significant disparities in exposure at nearly every stage of the fossil fuel life cycle. Native American and Hispanic communities were particularly impacted during the upstream and midstream phases, while Black and Asian populations experienced major health issues in the downstream phases.

Downstream effects have led to severe health problems in Black communities, particularly in southern Louisiana, often referred to as “cancer alley,” as highlighted by researchers in eastern Texas.

The study suggested that many of these inequities, including policies forcing certain communities to live near industrial zones and busy roadways, stem from historical housing practices.

“These communities are well aware of this unjust situation and the significant health burdens they endure,” said senior author Eloise Murray, a geography professor at the University of London.

“Our research provides science-backed data on the extent of these unfair exposures and health outcomes,” added Murray.

The impact of these health burdens appears to extend beyond US borders. Researchers found links to 1,170 premature deaths caused by US oil and gas pollution, affecting individuals in southern Canada and northern Mexico as well.

While the data was collected in 2017, the researchers mentioned that it remains relevant today, noting a 40% increase in US oil and gas production and an 8% rise in consumption by 2023.

“Although our estimates may be conservative, they lay the groundwork for future investigations and can help better quantify disparities to aid community and regulatory initiatives,” the authors concluded.