Health Risks in West Virginia from Oil and Gas Air Pollution

The document details the health impacts of oil and gas air pollution in West Virginia, noting that over 1,200 tons of hazardous toxic air pollutants were emitted in 2011. It highlights that 262,000 people and over 890 schools are located within a half-mile of active operations, with residents in 28 counties facing cancer risks exceeding EPA levels of concern. Additionally, the industry's ozone emissions are linked to nearly 10,000 childhood asthma attacks annually and 21,400 person-days of restricted activity for adults across all counties in the state.

• In 2011, oil and gas companies in West Virginia emitted more than 1,200 tons of hazardous toxic air pollutants, including acetaldehyde, benzene, and formaldehyde. Production of oil and gas in the state grew by 271 percent and 235 percent, respectively, between 2011 and 2015, suggesting a likely increase in pollution.
• Proximity to oil and gas operations poses significant risks, with 262,000 West Virginians and more than 890 schools located within a half-mile of active sites. Furthermore, residents in 28 counties, which is more than half of the state's counties, are exposed to toxic gases that create a cancer risk exceeding the EPA's level of concern.
• Ozone smog from the oil and gas industry affects every county in West Virginia. This pollution is linked to approximately 10,000 childhood asthma attacks per year and 21,400 person-days of restricted activity for adults.

APA

Graham, J., McCabe, D., & Fleischman, L. (2017). Health Risks in West Virginia from Oil and Gas Air Pollution. Clean Air Task Force. https://cdn.catf.us/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/21094052/CATF_FactSheet_HealthEffects_WV.pdf

Chicago

Graham, John, David McCabe, and Lesley Fleischman. Health Risks in West Virginia from Oil and Gas Air Pollution. Clean Air Task Force, 2017. https://cdn.catf.us/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/21094052/CATF_FactSheet_HealthEffects_WV.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Graham |first1=John |last2=McCabe |first2=David |last3=Fleischman |first3=Lesley |title=Health Risks in West Virginia from Oil and Gas Air Pollution |publisher=Clean Air Task Force |date=February 2017 |url=https://cdn.catf.us/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/21094052/CATF_FactSheet_HealthEffects_WV.pdf |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{graham2017health, author = {Graham, John and McCabe, David and Fleischman, Lesley}, title = {{Health Risks in West Virginia from Oil and Gas Air Pollution}}, institution = {Clean Air Task Force}, year = {2017}, month = feb, url = {https://cdn.catf.us/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/21094052/CATF_FactSheet_HealthEffects_WV.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }