california oil and gas

Californians living within miles of oil and gas wells have toxic air

"For many years, communities have been complaining about how oil drilling in their neighborhoods is harmful. Now we have numbers to back that up."

People living within 2.5 miles of oil and gas wells in California are exposed to levels of air pollutants linked to asthma, cancer, cardiovascular diseases, preterm birth, and other long-term health defects, according to a new study published in September in the journal Science of The Total Environment.


Although it is well-established that oil and gas wells can contribute to air pollution and jeopardize the health of surrounding residents, this study is the first to pinpoint to what extent each common air pollutant can be attributed to fossil fuel production using large-scale state-wide data.

The study analyzed roughly one million daily entries from more than 300 air monitors across California from 2006 to 2019. After pairing air monitor data with upstream oil and gas production activities and leveraging wind direction to discern the pollution from the wells, the scientists observed higher concentrations of particulate matter (PM2.5), carbon monoxide, nitrous oxide, and ozone within two miles of the pre-production wells (wells that have not been completed for production). For active wells, the study found spiked PM2.5, nitrous oxide, and volatile organic compounds emissions within 0.6 miles of the production sites, and higher ozone concentrations between 0.6 and 1.2 miles from the wells.

The study adds to mounting evidence of oil and gas production's harm on California's underrepresented and poorly-resourced communities. At the southern end of the state's Central Valley, Kern County—which has roughly 78% of active wells in California and produces more than 70% of the oil and gas in the state—has heavily polluted air that "may put your health at risk," according to the American Lung Association. A 2015-17 community health report published by the county's health department revealed that lung cancer was the leading cause of death for the county's residents, more than half of whom are people of color. Meanwhile, the county—with 19% of people living below the poverty line (1.5 times the national rate)—also experienced higher infant mortality and heart disease death rates than the state average. Between 2015 to 2017, more Kern residents under age 5 and over age 65 went to the emergency room due to asthma than in the state as a whole.

"For many years, communities have been complaining about how oil drilling in their neighborhoods is harmful," David Gonzalez, an environmental scientist at University of California, Berkeley, and lead author of the paper, told EHN. "Now we have numbers to back that up."

Air pollution and health 

There are approximately one million active oil and natural gas wells on U.S. soil, penetrating the Earth from mountains, deserts, and, in many cases, people's backyards. About 12.8 million barrels of oil are sucked out of the country's ground every day.

Across the country, more than 17 million people—including 2.1 million Californians—live within a mile of at least one active drilling well, which is linked to a plethora of deleterious health outcomes—cardiovascular diseases, depression symptoms and sleep disorders, and detrimental birth outcomes. PM2.5—a deadly pollutant particle 30 times smaller than human hair—invades deep inside our lungs and into our blood. Another pollutant studied in this paper, ozone, can stiffen up our airway muscles and, as a result, trap air at the end-branches of our lungs and increase asthma risk. The molecule poses the greatest threat to children, whose respiratory systems are still developing.

Fracking investigation 

One limit of the new study is that it only looked into how common air pollutants were attributed to oil and gas productions. "We're just scratching the surface here," said Gonzalez, adding that there could be plenty of other harmful chemicals and environmental impacts—such as noise and greenhouse gas emissions—not considered in this study.

In 2021, EHN's own 'Fractured' investigation—which examined urine, air, and water samples from households in southwestern Pennsylvania near fracking sites—found chemicals including benzene and butylcyclohexane in drinking water and air samples. The analysis also revealed that breakdown chemical molecules such as ethylbenzene, styrene, and toluene in children residing near fracking wells at levels up to 91 times as high as the average American.

The health effects of drilling wells go beyond adjacent communities. EHN's investigation discovered people who were exposed to harmful compounds five miles away from fracking wells.

Joan Casey, an environmental epidemiology professor at Columbia University who was not involved in the study, told EHN that this new paper "fills a big gap" in understanding how oil and gas developments can harm people's health.

As this study helps "illuminate the black box," Casey said, "the time has come for us to step back and reduce the use of fossil fuels."

Banner photo: Global Climate Action Summit in California in 2018. (Credit: Peg Hunter/flickr)

A black plastic Crocs shoe floats in floodwaters.

Floods in Texas and around the world are getting worse as the planet heats up

Severe deluges like the one that killed dozens in Texas over the holiday weekend are hitting harder and more frequently, fueled by climate change and made deadlier by outdated infrastructure and shrinking climate research budgets.

Raymond Zhong reports for The New York Times.

Keep reading...Show less
A series of european union flags in front of a building.

EU scales back climate leadership as populism and global inaction stall 2040 emissions goal

European Union leaders proposed a scaled-back 2040 climate target this week, signaling a shift away from the bloc’s historic leadership as political pressure and global inaction grow.

Fiona Harvey reports for The Guardian.

Keep reading...Show less
A dry environment with scrub brush and dead wood.

Droughts tied to climate change are pushing water, food, and ecosystems to the brink

A new United Nations-backed report warns that climate-fueled droughts are becoming more deadly and far-reaching, intensifying hunger, displacing wildlife, and upending daily life from Africa to Latin America.

Tim Dodd reports for BBC.

Keep reading...Show less
Satellite floating over the earth.

New satellite designed to track methane emissions goes dark in orbit

A methane-tracking satellite launched by the Environmental Defense Fund lost contact mid-June, cutting short its mission to map planet-warming emissions from global oil and gas operations.

Raymond Zhong reports for The New York Times.

Keep reading...Show less
A row of pump jacks stretching into the distance.

Push to speed US fossil fuel permits faces delays as federal experts resign

A wave of retirements and resignations across federal environmental agencies is threatening President Trump’s efforts to fast-track fossil fuel and mining projects.

Miranda Willson and Hannah Northey report for E&E News.

Keep reading...Show less
The capitol building in Raleigh ,North Carolina.

North Carolina governor blocks rollback of clean energy targets

North Carolina Gov. Josh Stein vetoed a bill that would repeal a key 2030 carbon emissions reduction goal, citing concerns over energy costs and the state’s clean energy future.

Gary D. Robertson reports for The Associated Press.

Keep reading...Show less
View of the city of New York.
Credit: Pixabay

New York City mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani links climate action to affordability plan

Zohran Mamdani, who won New York City's Democratic mayoral primary, has built a platform that connects environmental justice to housing, utility costs, and school infrastructure, aiming to reshape how the city tackles climate and inequality.

Lauren Dalban reports for Inside Climate News.

Keep reading...Show less
From our Newsroom
Multiple Houston-area oil and gas facilities that have violated pollution laws are seeking permit renewals

Multiple Houston-area oil and gas facilities that have violated pollution laws are seeking permit renewals

One facility has emitted cancer-causing chemicals into waterways at levels up to 520% higher than legal limits.

Regulators are underestimating health impacts from air pollution: Study

Regulators are underestimating health impacts from air pollution: Study

"The reality is, we are not exposed to one chemical at a time.”

Pennsylvania governor Josh Shapiro speaks with the state flag and American flag behind him.

Two years into his term, has Gov. Shapiro kept his promises to regulate Pennsylvania’s fracking industry?

A new report assesses the administration’s progress and makes new recommendations

silhouette of people holding hands by a lake at sunset

An open letter from EPA staff to the American public

“We cannot stand by and allow this to happen. We need to hold this administration accountable.”

wildfire retardants being sprayed by plane

New evidence links heavy metal pollution with wildfire retardants

“The chemical black box” that blankets wildfire-impacted areas is increasingly under scrutiny.

Stay informed: sign up for The Daily Climate newsletter
Top news on climate impacts, solutions, politics, drivers. Delivered to your inbox week days.