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Exposure to unconventional oil and gas development and all-cause mortality in Medicare beneficiaries

Author

Listed:
  • Longxiang Li

    (Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health)

  • Francesca Dominici

    (Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health)

  • Annelise J. Blomberg

    (Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health
    Lund University)

  • Falco J. Bargagli-Stoffi

    (Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health)

  • Joel D. Schwartz

    (Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health
    Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health)

  • Brent A. Coull

    (Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health
    Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health)

  • John D. Spengler

    (Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health)

  • Yaguang Wei

    (Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health)

  • Joy Lawrence

    (Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health)

  • Petros Koutrakis

    (Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health)

Abstract

Little is known about whether exposure to unconventional oil and gas development is associated with higher mortality risks in the elderly and whether related air pollutants are exposure pathways. We studied a cohort of 15,198,496 Medicare beneficiaries (136,215,059 person-years) in all major US unconventional exploration regions from 2001 to 2015. We gathered data from records of more than 2.5 million oil and gas wells. For each beneficiary’s ZIP code of residence and year in the cohort, we calculated a proximity-based and a downwind-based pollutant exposure. We analysed the data using two methods: a Cox proportional hazards model and a difference-in-differences design. We found evidence of a statistically significant higher mortality risk associated with living in proximity to and downwind of unconventional oil and gas wells. Our results suggest that primary air pollutants sourced from unconventional oil and gas exploration can be a major exposure pathway with adverse health effects in the elderly.

Suggested Citation

  • Longxiang Li & Francesca Dominici & Annelise J. Blomberg & Falco J. Bargagli-Stoffi & Joel D. Schwartz & Brent A. Coull & John D. Spengler & Yaguang Wei & Joy Lawrence & Petros Koutrakis, 2022. "Exposure to unconventional oil and gas development and all-cause mortality in Medicare beneficiaries," Nature Energy, Nature, vol. 7(2), pages 177-185, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natene:v:7:y:2022:i:2:d:10.1038_s41560-021-00970-y
    DOI: 10.1038/s41560-021-00970-y
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    Cited by:

    1. Ploy Achakulwisut & Peter Erickson & Céline Guivarch & Roberto Schaeffer & Elina Brutschin & Steve Pye, 2023. "Global fossil fuel reduction pathways under different climate mitigation strategies and ambitions," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-15, December.

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