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The Impact of Oil and Gas Extraction on Infant Health

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  • Elaine L. Hill

Abstract

The benefits and costs of resource extraction are currently being hotly debated in the case of unconventional natural gas development (commonly known as “fracking”). Colorado provides a unique research environment to study the health impacts of conventional and unconventional forms of oil and gas development (OGD) given its long history of conventional OGD and recent expansion of unconventional OGD. I utilize detailed vital statistics and the mother’s residential address to define proximity to drilling activity. Using a difference-in-differences model that compares mothers residing within 1 km to mothers residing 1–5 km of a well (before and during/after drilling), I find that proximity to wells before birth increases adverse birth outcomes and pregnancy-related complications. I find impacts on the extensive and intensive margins and across well types. I also present results suggesting no impacts on fertility or mobility. These results are robust to multiple specifications and suggest that policies to mitigate against the risks of living near oil and gas development may be warranted.

Suggested Citation

  • Elaine L. Hill, 2024. "The Impact of Oil and Gas Extraction on Infant Health," American Journal of Health Economics, University of Chicago Press, vol. 10(1), pages 68-96.
    • Handle: RePEc:ucp:amjhec:doi:10.1086/724218
    DOI: 10.1086/724218
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    Cited by:

    1. Shui, Ailun & van den Berg, Gerard J. & Mierau, Jochen O. & Viluma, Laura, 2025. "The Impact of Mining-Induced Earthquakes on Mental Health: Evidence from the Dutch Lifelines Cohort Study and Biobank," IZA Discussion Papers 17925, IZA Network @ LISER.
    2. Charles F. Mason & Lucija A. Muehlenbachs & Sheila M. Olmstead, 2015. "The Economics of Shale Gas Development," Annual Review of Resource Economics, Annual Reviews, vol. 7(1), pages 269-289, October.
    3. Yao Lu & David J. G. Slusky, 2019. "The Impact of Women's Health Clinic Closures on Fertility," American Journal of Health Economics, University of Chicago Press, vol. 5(3), pages 334-359, Summer.

    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • I10 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health - - - General
    • I18 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health - - - Government Policy; Regulation; Public Health
    • Q33 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Nonrenewable Resources and Conservation - - - Resource Booms (Dutch Disease)
    • Q53 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Environmental Economics - - - Air Pollution; Water Pollution; Noise; Hazardous Waste; Solid Waste; Recycling

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