The following references support the content of the infographic: The Impacts of Natural Gas on Public Health and the Environment.
Vulnerable people include children, seniors, frontline environmental justice communities and industry workers.
Adgate, J. L., Goldstein, B. D., & McKenzie, L. M. (2014, August 5). Potential public health hazards, exposures and health effects from unconventional natural gas development. Environmental Science and Technology. American Chemical Society. https://doi.org/10.1021/es404621d
Esswein, E. J., Breitenstein, M., Snawder, J., Kiefer, M., & Sieber, W. K. (2013). Occupational exposures to respirable crystalline silica during hydraulic fracturing. Journal of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene, 10(7), 347–356. https://doi.org/10.1080/15459624.2013.788352
Johnston, J., & Cushing, L. (2020). Chemical Exposures, Health, and Environmental Justice in Communities Living on the Fenceline of Industry. Current Environmental Health Reports, 48–57. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40572-020-00263-8
Landrigan, P. J., Frumkin, H., Lundberg, B. E. (2020). The False Promise of Natural Gas. New England Journal of Medicine, 382(2), 101–104. https://doi.org/DOI: 10.1056/NEJMp1913663
Shonkoff, S. B., Morello-Frosch, R., Pastor, M., & Sadd, J. (2009). Minding the Climate Gap: Environmental Health and Equity Implications of Climate Change Mitigation Policies in California. Environmental Justice, 2(4), 173–177. https://doi.org/10.1089/env.2009.0030
Methane, climate change, and air quality
Alvarez, R. A., Pacala, S. W., Winebrake, J. J., Chameides, W. L., & Hamburg, S. P. (2012). Greater focus needed on methane leakage from natural gas infrastructure. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 109(17), 6435–6440.https://doi.org/10.1073/PNAS.1202407109">https://doi.org/10.1073/PNAS.1202407109
Fiore, A. M., Naik, V., Leibensperger, E. M., Fiore, A. M., Naik, V., & Leibensperger, E. M. (2015). Air Quality and Climate Connections. Journal of the Air & Waste Management Association, 65(6), 645–685. https://doi.org/10.1080/10962247.2015.1040526
Hmiel, B., Petrenko, V. V, Dyonisius, M. N., Buizert, C., Smith, A. M., Place, P. F., … Dlugokencky, E. (2020). Preindustrial 14CH4 indicates greater anthropogenic fossil CH4 emissions. Nature, 578(May 2019), 10–14. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-020-1991-8
Howarth, R. W., Santoro, R., & Ingraffea, A. (2011). Methane and the greenhouse-gas footprint of natural gas from shale formations. Climatic Change, 106(4), 679–690. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10584-011-0061-5
Kuo, J., Hicks, T. C., Drake, B., & Chan, T. F. (2015). Estimation of methane emission from California natural gas industry. Journal of the Air and Waste Management Association, 65(7), 844–855. https://doi.org/10.1080/10962247.2015.1025924
Kuo, J., Hicks, T. C., Drake, B., & Chan, T. F. (2015). Estimation of methane emission from California natural gas industry. Journal of the Air and Waste Management Association, 65(7), 844–855. https://doi.org/10.1080/10962247.2015.1025924
Patz, J. A., Frumkin, H., Holloway, T., Vimont, D. J., & Haines, A. (2014). Climate change: Challenges and opportunities for global health. JAMA - Journal of the American Medical Association, 312(15), 1565–1580. https://doi.org/10.1001/jama.2014.13186
Payne, B. F., Ackley, R., Paige Wicker, A., Hildenbrand, Z. L., Carlton, D. D., & Schug, K. A. (2017). Characterization of methane plumes downwind of natural gas compressor stations in Pennsylvania and New York. Science of the Total Environment, 580, 1214–1221. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2016.12.082
Russo, P. N., & Carpenter, D. O. (2019). Air emissions from natural gas facilities in New York state. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 16(9). https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph16091591
West, Jason & Fiore, Arlene & Horowitz, Larry & Mauzerall, Denise. (2006). Global health benefits of mitigating ozone pollution with methane emission controls. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America. 103. 3988-93. https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.0600201103
Zavala-Araiza, D., Lyon, D. R., Alvarez, R. A., Davis, K. J., Harriss, R., Herndon, S. C., … Hamburg, S. P. (2015). Reconciling divergent estimates of oil and gas methane emissions. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, 112(51), 15597–15602. https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.1522126112
Adverse cognitive effects
Webb, E., Moon, J., Dyrszka, L., Rodriguez, B., Cox, C., Patisaul, H., … London, E. (2018). Neurodevelopmental and neurological effects of chemicals associated with unconventional oil and natural gas operations and their potential effects on infants and children. Reviews on Environmental Health, 33(1), 3–29. https://doi.org/10.1515/reveh-2017-0008
More asthma episodes
Rasmussen, S. G., Ogburn, E. L., McCormack, M., Casey, J. A., Bandeen-Roche, K., Mercer, D. G., & Schwartz, B. S. (2016). Association between unconventional natural gas development in the Marcellus shale and asthma exacerbations. JAMA Internal Medicine, 176(9), 1334–1343. https://doi.org/10.1001/jamainternmed.2016.2436
Breathing problems
McCawley, M. (2015). Air contaminants associated with potential respiratory effects from unconventional resource development activities. Seminars in Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, 36(3), 379–387. https://doi.org/10.1055/s-0035-1549453
Rabinowitz, P., Slizovskiy, I., Lamers, V., Trufan, S., Holford, T., Dziura, J., … Stowe, M. (2015). Proximity to Natural Gas Wells and Reported Health Status: Results of a Household Survey in Washington County, Pennsylvania. Environmental Health Perspectives, 123(1), 21–26. https://doi.org/doi:10.1016/j.jaci.2008.09.052
Rasmussen, S. G., Ogburn, E. L., McCormack, M., Casey, J. A., Bandeen-Roche, K., Mercer, D. G., & Schwartz, B. S. (2016). Association between unconventional natural gas development in the marcellus shale and asthma exacerbations. JAMA Internal Medicine, 176(9), 1334–1343. https://doi.org/10.1001/jamainternmed.2016.2436
Webb, E., Hays, J., Dyrszka, L., Rodriguez, B., Cox, C., Huffling, K., & Bushkin-Bedient, S. (2016, June 1). Potential hazards of air pollutant emissions from unconventional oil and natural gas operations on the respiratory health of children and infants. Reviews on Environmental Health. Walter de Gruyter GmbH. https://doi.org/10.1515/reveh-2014-0070
Leukemia (cancer)
Brosselin, P., Rudant, J., Orsi, L., Leverger, G., Baruchel, A., Bertrand, Y., … Clavel, J. (2009). Acute childhood leukaemia and residence next to petrol stations and automotive repair garages: The ESCALE study (SFCE). Occupational and Environmental Medicine, 66(9), 598–606. https://doi.org/10.1136/oem.2008.042432
McHale, C. M., Zhang, L., & Ã, M. T. S. (2012). Current understanding of the mechanism of benzene-induced leukemia in humans : implications for risk assessment, 33(2), 240–252. https://doi.org/10.1093/carcin/bgr297
McKenzie, L. M., Allshouse, W. B., Byers, T. E., Bedrick, E. J., Serdar, B., & Adgate, J. L. (2017). Childhood hematologic cancer and residential proximity to oil and gas development. PLoS ONE, 12(2), 1–17. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0170423
McKenzie, L. M., Witter, R. Z., Newman, L. S., & Adgate, J. L. (2012). Human health risk assessment of air emissions from development of unconventional natural gas resources. Science of the Total Environment, 424, 79–87. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2012.02.018
Eye, nose, throat, and skin irritation
Jemielita, T., Gerton, G. L., Neidell, M., Chillrud, S., Yan, B., Stute, M., … Panettieri, R. A. (2015). Unconventional gas and oil drilling is associated with increased hospital utilization rates. PLoS ONE, 10(7), 1–18. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0131093
Tustin, A. W., Hirsch, A. G., Rasmussen, S. G., Casey, J. A., & Bandeen-roche, K. (2017). Associations between Unconventional Natural Gas Development and Nasal and Sinus , Migraine Headache , and Fatigue Symptoms in Pennsylvania, 125(2), 189–197.
Wattenberg, E. V, Bielicki, J. M., Suchomel, A. E., Jessica, T., Vold, E. M., Ramachandran, G., … Ramachandran, G. (2015). Assessment of the Acute and Chronic Health Hazards of Hydraulic Fracturing Fluids Assessment of the Acute and Chronic Health Hazards of Hydraulic Fracturing Fluids, 9624. https://doi.org/10.1080/15459624.2015.1029612
Sleep disturbances and mental health problems
Casey, J. A., Wilcox, H. C., Hirsch, A. G., Pollak, J., & Schwartz, B. S. (2018). Associations of unconventional natural gas development with depression symptoms and disordered sleep in Pennsylvania. Scientific Reports, 8(1). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-018-29747-2
Balise, V. D., Cornelius-Green, J. N., Parmenter, B., Baxter, S., Kassotis, C. D., Rector, R. S., … Nagel, S. C. (2019). Developmental Exposure to a Mixture of Unconventional Oil and Gas Chemicals Increased Risk-Taking Behavior, Activity and Energy Expenditure in Aged Female Mice After a Metabolic Challenge. Frontiers in Endocrinology, 10. https://doi.org/10.3389/fendo.2019.00460
Hays, J., Mccawley, M., & Shonkoff, S. B. C. (2017). Public health implications of environmental noise associated with unconventional oil and gas development. Science of the Total Environment, 580, 448–456. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2016.11.118
Fisher, M. P., Mayer, A., Vollet, K., Hill, E. L., & Haynes, E. N. (2018). Psychosocial implications of unconventional natural gas development: Quality of life in Ohio’s Guernsey and Noble Counties. Journal of Environmental Psychology, 55, 90–98. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvp.2017.12.008
Heart disease
McKenzie, L. M., Crooks, J., Peel, J. L., Blair, B. D., Brindley, S., Allshouse, W. B., … Adgate, J. L. (2019). Relationships between indicators of cardiovascular disease and intensity of oil and natural gas activity in Northeastern Colorado. Environmental Research, 170, 56–64. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envres.2018.12.004
Hormone disruptions
Boyle, M. D., Soneja, S., Quiros-Alcala, L., Dalemarre, L., Sapkota, A. R., Sangaramoorthy, T., … Sapkota, A. (2017). A pilot study to assess residential noise exposure near natural gas compressor stations. PLoS ONE, 12(4), 1–15. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0174310
Kassotis, C. D., Iwanowicz, L. R., Akob, D. M., Cozzarelli, I. M., Mumford, A. C., Orem, W. H., & Nagel, S. C. (2016). Endocrine disrupting activities of surface water associated with a West Virginia oil and gas industry wastewater disposal site. Science of The Total Environment, 557–558, 901–910. https://doi.org/10.1016/J.SCITOTENV.2016.03.113
Kassotis, C. D., Tillitt, D. E., Davis, J. W., Hormann, A. M., & Nagel, S. C. (2014). Estrogen and androgen receptor activities of hydraulic fracturing chemicals and surface and ground water in a drilling-dense region. Endocrinology, 155(3), 897–907. https://doi.org/10.1210/en.2013-1697
Reproductive harm and birth defects
McKenzie, L. M., Allshouse, W., & Daniels, S. (2019). Congenital heart defects and intensity of oil and gas well site activities in early pregnancy. Environment International, 132(May), 104949. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envint.2019.104949
McKenzie, L. M., Guo, R., Witter, R. Z., Savitz, D. A., Newman, L. S., & Adgate, J. L. (2015). Birth outcomes and maternal residential proximity to natural gas development in rural Colorado. Everyday Environmental Toxins: Childrens Exposure Risks, (4), 111–130. https://doi.org/10.1201/b18221
Stacy, S. L., Brink, L. A. L., Larkin, J. C., Sadovsky, Y., Goldstein, B. D., Pitt, B. R., & Talbott, E. O. (2015). Perinatal outcomes and unconventional natural gas operations in Southwest Pennsylvania. PLoS ONE, 10(6), 1–15. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0126425
Zahran, S., Weiler, S., Mielke, H. W., & Pena, A. A. (2012). Maternal benzene exposure and low birth weight risk in the United States: A natural experiment in gasoline reformulation. Environmental Research, 112, 139–146. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envres.2011.11.008
Natural Gas as a freight transport fuel increases greenhouse gas emissions
South Coast Air Quality Management District, Ports MOU/Technical Working Group, Updated Truck Emissions Forecast, April 12, 2019
California Air Resources Board, Global Warning Potentials, accessed May 13, 2020 (https://ww2.arb.ca.gov/ghg-gwps ).
Alvarez, R. A., Pacala, S. W., Winebrake, J. J., Chameides, W. L., & Hamburg, S. P. (2012). Greater focus needed on methane leakage from natural gas infrastructure. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 109(17), 6435–6440. https://doi.org/10.1073/PNAS.1202407109
Carpenter, D. O. (2016). Hydraulic fracturing for natural gas: Impact on health and environment. Reviews on Environmental Health, 31(1), 47–51. https://doi.org/10.1515/reveh-2016-0055
Field, R. A., Soltis, J., & Murphy, S. (2014b). Air quality concerns of unconventional oil and natural gas production. Environmental Sciences: Processes and Impacts, 16(5), 954–969. https://doi.org/10.1039/c4em00081a
Hendrick, M. F., Ackley, R., Sanaie-Movahed, B., Tang, X., & Phillips, N. G. (2016). Fugitive methane emissions from leak-prone natural gas distribution infrastructure in urban environments. Environmental Pollution, 213, 710–716. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envpol.2016.01.094
Howarth, R. W. (2019). Is Shale Gas a Major Driver of Recent Increase in Global Atmospheric Methane? Biogeosciences Discussions, 1–23. https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-2019-131
Payne, B. F., Ackley, R., Paige Wicker, A., Hildenbrand, Z. L., Carlton, D. D., & Schug, K. A. (2017). Characterization of methane plumes downwind of natural gas compressor stations in Pennsylvania and New York. Science of the Total Environment, 580, 1214–1221. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2016.12.082
Russo, P. N., & Carpenter, D. O. (2019). Air emissions from natural gas facilities in New York state. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 16(9). https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph16091591
Carpenter, D. O. (2016). Hydraulic fracturing for natural gas: Impact on health and environment. Reviews on Environmental Health, 31(1), 47–51. https://doi.org/10.1515/reveh-2016-0055
Jackson, R. B., Vengosh, A., Darrah, T. H., Warner, N. R., Down, A., & Poreda, R. J. (2013). Increased stray gas abundance in a subset of drinking water wells near Marcellus shale gas extraction. https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.1221635110
Johnston, J. E., Werder, E., & Sebastian, D. (2016). Wastewater Disposal Wells, Fracking, and Environmental Injustice in Southern Texas. American Journal of Public Health, 106(3), 550–556. https://doi.org/10.2105/AJPH.2015.303000
Osborn, S. G., Vengosh, A., Warner, N. R., & Jackson, R. B. (2011). Methane contamination of drinking water accompanying gas-well drilling and hydraulic fracturing. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 108(20), 8172–8176. https://doi.org/10.1073/PNAS.1100682108
Rowan, E.L., Engle, M.A., Kirby, C.S., & Kraemer, T.F. (2011). Radium content of oil- and gas-field produced waters in the northern Appalachian Basin (USA)—Summary and discussion of data: U.S. Geological Survey Scientific Investigations Report. 2011–5135, 31 p.
Warner, N. R., Christie, C. A., Jackson, R. B., & Vengosh, A. (2013a). Impacts of shale gas wastewater disposal on water quality in Western Pennsylvania. Environmental Science and Technology, 47(20), 11849–11857. https://doi.org/10.1021/es402165b
