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The Heath Implications of Unconventional Natural Gas Development in Pennsylvania

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  • Peng, Lizhong
  • Meyerhoefer, Chad
  • Chou, Shin-Yi

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 Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection with a database of all inpatient hospital admissions. Through a difference-in-differences regression analysis that compares changes in hospitalization rates over time for air pollution-sensitive disease in counties with unconventional gas wells to changes in hospitalization rates in non-well counties, we find significant associations between shale gas development and hospitalizations for acute myocardial infarction (AMI), pneumonia, and upper respiratory infections (URI). In particular, we find that county-level hospitalization rates for AMI among young adults (aged 20-44) increased by 24 percent due to shale gas development. Hospitalizations for pneumonia and URI also increased by 8.5 percent and 17 percent, respectively, among the elderly. These adverse effects on health are consistent with higher levels of air pollution resulting from unconventional natural gas development.

Suggested Citation

  • Peng, Lizhong & Meyerhoefer, Chad & Chou, Shin-Yi, 2016. "The Heath Implications of Unconventional Natural Gas Development in Pennsylvania," 2016 Annual Meeting, July 31-August 2, Boston, Massachusetts 235745, Agricultural and Applied Economics Association.
    • Handle: RePEc:ags:aaea16:235745
    DOI: 10.22004/ag.econ.235745
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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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    Keywords

    Community/Rural/Urban Development; Environmental Economics and Policy; Health Economics and Policy;
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