Oil and Gas Health Effects
There are a variety of chemicals used during the drilling and production phases of oil and gas; and different types of wastes are produced throughout the development process.
Increasingly, landowners and residents of oil and gas field communities are reporting health impacts that they believe are linked to environmental toxics associated with the oil and gas development activities in their area. These reports include incidents of: asthma, respiratory and cardiovascular illnesses, autoimmune diseases, liver failure, cancer and other ailments such as headaches, nausea, and sleeplessness.
Public Health and Toxics Issues
- HYDRAULIC FRACTURING. This often involves the injection of known toxic chemicals into or close to drinking water supplies
- CHEMICAL DISCLOSURE. Increasingly, landowners and residents of oil and gas field communities are reporting health impacts that they believe are linked to environmental toxics associated with the oil and gas development activities in their area. These reports include incidents of: asthma, respiratory and cardiovascular illnesses, autoimmune diseases, liver failure, cancer and other ailments such as headaches, nausea, and sleeplessness.
- PITS. Contamination of groundwater, soil and air may result from the storage and disposal of oil and gas wastes in unlined and lined pits.
- OIL AND GAS POLLUTION. There are many chemicals used and waste produced throughout the various stages of oil and gas development. These chemicals and wastes can contaminate air, water and soil.
- AIR POLLUTION. Oil and gas development contributes to air pollution problems such as increased low-level ozone (smog), toxic levels of hydrogen sulfide, and localized zones of airborne hydrocarbons like VOCs and PAHs.
- HYDROGEN SULFIDE. This is a particularly toxic gas that is sometimes associated with oil and gas development. Citizens from many states and Alberta, Canada have experienced health problems from exposure to this gas.
- HEALTH IMPACTS. More and more, people are speaking up about health problems that seem to be related to oil and gas pollution.
- NOISE. More than merely annoying, the noise from oil and gas can affect people's health and drive them from their homes.
- PATHWAYS AND SOURCES OF CONTAMINATION. There are a number of ways that contaminants from oil and gas operations can enter the environment.
- FRAC SAND MINING Frac sand mining creates significant air pollution from the handling, mining, and processing of the sand.
For more information:
Fact Sheets
- Oil and Gas Pollution: Contaminants associated with the various stages of oil and gas development
- Think Again: Air pollution from oil and gas facilities
- Pits: Contamination and regulation issues
States
- COLORADO Oil and Gas Health and Toxics Issues
- NEW MEXICO Oil and Gas Health and Toxics Issues
- TEXAS Oil and Gas Health and Toxics Issues
Publications
- Gas Patch Roulette How Shale Gas Development Risks Public Health in Pennsylvania
- Reckless Endangerment While Fracking the Eagle Ford Shale
- Natural Gas Flowback: the Dark Side of the Boom How the Texas gas boom affects community health and safety
- Health Survey Results of Current and Former DISH/Clark, Texas Residents
Voices
Other
- Endocrine Disruption Exchange
- Concerned Health Professionals of NY Compendium of Scientific, Medical, and Media Findings Demonstrating Risks and Harms of Fracking
- New Solutions Journal Investigating Links Between Shale Gas Development and Health Impacts through a Community Survey Project in Pennsylvania
- 2010 People's Oil and Gas Summit - Toxics in Our Communities drew together people from across North America to talk about public health and toxics issues related to oil and gas development.
- NIH Birth Outcomes and Maternal Residential Proximity to Natural Gas Development in Rural Colorado
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