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The health implications of unconventional natural gas development in Pennsylvania

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  • Lizhong Peng
  • Chad Meyerhoefer
  • Shin‐Yi Chou

Abstract

We investigate the health impacts of unconventional natural gas development of Marcellus shale in Pennsylvania between 2001 and 2013 by merging well permit data from the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection with a database of all inpatient hospital admissions. After comparing changes in hospitalization rates over time for air pollution‐sensitive diseases in counties with unconventional gas wells to changes in hospitalization rates in nonwell counties, we find a significant association between shale gas development and hospitalizations for pneumonia among the elderly, which is consistent with higher levels of air pollution resulting from unconventional natural gas development. We note that the lack of any detectable impact of shale gas development on younger populations may be due to unobserved factors contemporaneous with drilling, such as migration.

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  • Lizhong Peng & Chad Meyerhoefer & Shin‐Yi Chou, 2018. "The health implications of unconventional natural gas development in Pennsylvania," Health Economics, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 27(6), pages 956-983, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:wly:hlthec:v:27:y:2018:i:6:p:956-983
    DOI: 10.1002/hec.3649
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    2. Blundell, Wesley & Kokoza, Anatolii, 2022. "Natural gas flaring, respiratory health, and distributional effects," Journal of Public Economics, Elsevier, vol. 208(C).
    3. Beleche, Trinidad & Cintina, Inna, 2018. "Fracking and risky behaviors: Evidence from Pennsylvania," Economics & Human Biology, Elsevier, vol. 31(C), pages 69-82.
    4. Boslett, Andrew & Hill, Elaine, 2022. "Mortality during resource booms and busts," Journal of Environmental Economics and Management, Elsevier, vol. 115(C).
    5. Alison M. Bamber & Stephanie H. Hasanali & Anil S. Nair & Sharon M. Watkins & Daniel I. Vigil & Michael Van Dyke & Tami S. McMullin & Kristy Richardson, 2019. "A Systematic Review of the Epidemiologic Literature Assessing Health Outcomes in Populations Living near Oil and Natural Gas Operations: Study Quality and Future Recommendations," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(12), pages 1-20, June.
    6. Hill, Elaine L., 2018. "Shale gas development and infant health: Evidence from Pennsylvania," Journal of Health Economics, Elsevier, vol. 61(C), pages 134-150.
    7. Angela K. Werner & Cate M. Cameron & Kerrianne Watt & Sue Vink & Paul Jagals & Andrew Page, 2017. "Is Increasing Coal Seam Gas Well Development Activity Associated with Increasing Hospitalisation Rates in Queensland, Australia? An Exploratory Analysis 1995–2011," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 14(5), pages 1-13, May.

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