Applying the hierarchy of controls to oil and gas development

Deziel, Nicole C.; McKenzie, Lisa M.; Casey, Joan A.; McKone, Thomas E.; Johnston, Jill; González, D. J.; Shonkoff, Seth B.C.; Morello‐Frosch, Rachel

doi:10.1088/1748-9326/ac7967

Cited by 7 publications

(5 citation statements)

References 14 publications

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“…Methane emissions from O&G are a major climate policy concern [1,24], and many policies that affect the emissions of methane from O&G production may also affect emissions of air pollutants and consequent health impacts [22,25]. Therefore, understanding the health impacts of air pollution from O&G production is important from a climate 'co-benefits' perspective, a public health perspective, and an environmental justice perspective [26][27][28][29][30]. Observational studies indicate that populations living in proximity to or downwind of oil and gas activity have higher rates of poor birth outcomes [31], asthma exacerbations [32], emergency room visits [33], hospitalizations [34], cardiovascular disease [35] and other adverse health outcomes [36].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Air pollution and health impacts of oil & gas production in the United States

Buonocore

Reka

Yang

et al. 2023

Environ. Res.: Health

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Oil and gas production is one of the largest emitters of methane, a potent greenhouse gas and a significant contributor of air pollution emissions. While research on methane emissions from oil and gas production has grown rapidly, there is comparatively limited information on the distribution of impacts of this sector on air quality and associated health impacts. Understanding the contribution of air quality and health impacts of oil and gas can be useful for designing mitigation strategies. Here we assess air quality and human health impacts associated with ozone, fine particulate matter, and nitrogen dioxide from the oil and gas sector in the US in 2016, and compare this impact with that of the associated methane emissions. We find that air pollution in 2016 from the oil and gas sector in the US resulted in 410 000 asthma exacerbations, 2200 new cases of childhood asthma and 7500 excess deaths, with $77 billion in total health impacts. NO2 was the highest contributor to health impacts (37%) followed by ozone (35%), and then PM2.5 (28%). When monetized, these air quality health impacts of oil and gas production exceeded estimated climate impact costs from methane leakage by a factor of 3. These impacts add to the total life cycle impacts of oil and gas, and represent potential additional health benefits of strategies that reduce consumption of oil and gas. Policies to reduce oil and gas production emissions will lead to additional and significant health benefits from co-pollutant reductions that are not currently quantified or monetized.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Air pollution and health impacts of oil & gas production in the United States

Buonocore

Reka

Yang

et al. 2023

Environ. Res.: Health

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“…This is particularly important in those states where we observed the greatest historical and projected future risks of wildfire overlap with wells and human populations. Interventions could include limiting or eliminating drilling in high wildfire risk areas, creating setbacks between wells and sensitive receptors (e.g., residences, schools, medical facilities), and utilizing technological controls including proper well plugging and monitoring for leaks of flammable gases (58). Evacuation has already been necessary in cases where industrial fires have occurred at oil and gas wells (38), and the broad scale of wildfires could complicate disaster response efforts.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Wildfires increasingly threaten oil and gas wells in the western United States with disproportionate impacts on marginalized populations

Gonzalez,

Morello-Frosch,

Liu

et al. 2024

Preprint

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The recent increases in wildfire activity in the western United States has coincided with the proliferation of oil and gas development and substantial population growth in the wildland-urban interface. Drilling and operating oil and gas wells is already associated with emissions of harmful pollutants and higher risks of adverse health outcomes for nearby residents. Perturbation from climate-driven disasters such as wildfire could exacerbate these risks and introduce new hazards. Here, we examined historical threats of wildfires for oil and gas wells, the extent to which wildfires are projected to threaten wells as climate change progresses, and exposure of human populations to these wells. Between 1984 and 2019, we found that 102,882 oil and gas wells were located in wildfire burn areas and cumulatively 348,853 people were exposed (resided ≤ 1 km from these wells). During this period, we observed a five-fold increase in the number of wells in wildfire burn areas and a doubling of the population exposed. Approximately 2.9 million people currently reside within 1 km of the 118,409 wells in high wildfire risk areas, with disproportionately high exposure for communities of color. These trends are projected to worsen, with 87,261 additional wells projected to be in high wildfire risk areas by late century. Policymakers have an opportunity to proactively address expected wildfire impacts on oil and gas development and nearby communities by prioritizing wildfire-threatened wells for retirement, monitoring wells for leaks of flammable gases, and restricting drilling in areas projected to have high future wildfire risk.

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“…Across California, state and local policymakers have considered options to provide protections for frontline communities near oil and gas development facilities. Potential policy interventions aimed at mitigating risks associated with oil and gas development include on‐site engineering controls, setbacks or buffer distances between wells and sensitive receptors (e.g., residences, schools, medical facilities), and the elimination of oil and gas production (Deziel, McKenzie, et al., 2022 ). In September 2022, the California legislature passed a new statute that requires a 1 km setback between new wells and sensitive receptors, including residences (Senate Bill No.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Additionally, for active wells, we assessed the cumulative sum of oil and gas production volume in BOE during that time-period for all wells within 1 km of the block group centroid. As Deziel, Clark, et al (2022) and Deziel, McKenzie, et al, 2022 have noted, proximity-based exposure metrics have the advantages of being appropriate for retrospective analyses, easily scalable, and effective for capturing aggregate exposures to chemical, physical, and other stressors associated with oil and gas production, though the approach is constrained in not being able to identify specific etiological agents or risks beyond the buffer distance.…”

Section: Exposure Assessmentmentioning

confidence: 99%