Flaring from Unconventional Oil and Gas Development and Birth Outcomes in the Eagle Ford Shale in South Texas

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Prior studies suggest exposure to oil and gas development (OGD) adversely affects birth outcomes, but no studies have examined flaring-the open combustion of natural gas-from OGD. OBJECTIVES: We investigated whether residential proximity to flaring from OGD was associated with shorter gestation and reduced fetal growth in the Eagle Ford Shale of south Texas. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective cohort study using administrative birth records from 2012 to 2015 (N = 23,487) and satellite observations of flaring activity during pregnancy within 5 km of maternal residence. Multivariate logistic and linear regression models were used to estimate associations between four outcomes (preterm birth, small-for-gestational age, continuous gestational age, and term birthweight) and exposure to a low (1-9) or high (≥10) number of nightly flare events, as compared with no exposure, while controlling for known maternal risk factors. We also examined associations with the number of oil and gas wells within 5 km using data from DrillingInfo (now Enverus). RESULTS: Exposure to a high number of nightly flare events was associated with a 50% higher odds of preterm birth [odds ratio ðORÞ = 1:50 (95% CI: 1.23, 1.83)] and shorter gestation [mean difference = − 1:9 (95% CI: −2:8, −0:9) d] compared with no exposure. Effect estimates were slightly reduced after adjustment for the number of wells within 5 km. In stratified models these associations were present only among Hispanic women. Flaring and fetal growth outcomes were not significantly associated. Women exposed to a high number of wells (fourth quartile, ≥27) vs. no wells within 5 km had a higher odds of preterm birth [

Associations between Residential Proximity to Oil and Gas Drilling and Term Birth Weight and Small-for-Gestational-Age Infants in Texas: A Difference-in-Differences Analysis

“…In Texas, Whitworth et al used Dallas-Fort Worth area birth records, where they observed no clear associations between drilling activity and odds of an SGA infant and inverse but not significant associations for drilling activity and decreased term birth weight (Whitworth et al 2017). Cushing et al also used Texas birth records and demonstrated that some of the association between residential proximity to drilling and reduced term birth weight is attributed to natural gas flaring (Cushing et al 2020), the process by which economically nonviable natural gas is extracted and combusted (Elvidge et al 2009;Franklin et al 2019). In Colorado, McKenzie et al used birth records and observed small protective associations with preterm birth and term low birth weight for infants whose mothers resided near natural gas drilling during pregnancy (McKenzie et al 2014).…”

Arsenic release to the environment from hydrocarbon production, storage, transportation, use and waste management

“…Third, research on the overall toxicology and health effects of hydrocarbon production could aid in identifying both the broad effects of hydrocarbon production on humans and the effects of specific activities and contaminants. Recently, Cushing et al (2020) examined the impact of natural gas flaring on birth outcomes; results suggested that exposure to flare events was associated with 50% higher odds of preterm birth. In a review of the potential health effects of UOG development, the Health Effects Institute (HEI, 2020) emphasized that more studies are needed with the objective of quantifying potential human exposure to water contamination from UOG processes.…”

Invited Perspective: Oil and Gas Development and Adverse Birth Outcomes: What More Do We Need to Know?

“…Additionally, we need more studies of the potential disproportionate environmental health impacts on different populations with regard to race, ethnicity, socioeconomic vulnerability, and urbanity/rurality, because certain subgroups may experience more pronounced responses due to greater cumulative burdens of multiple socioenvironmental stressors (Kroepsch et al 2019;Payne-Sturges et al 2021). The need for additional environmental justice-focused analyses is supported by findings from Willis et al and by a study of birth outcomes and flaring from oil and gas wells in the Eagle Ford Shale of Texas that reported that adverse effects appeared to be disproportionately borne by Hispanic women (Cushing et al 2020).…”