Oil and Gas Health Effects

Increasingly, landowners and residents of oil and gas field communities are reporting health impacts that they believe are linked to environmental toxics associated with the oil and gas development activities in their area.  These reports include incidents of:  asthma, respiratory and cardiovascular illnesses, autoimmune diseases, liver failure, cancer and other ailments such as headaches, nausea, and sleeplessness. 

• Read some landowner stories on health effects potentially related to oil and gas development. 
  
• Find out more about some of the chemicals being used by industry, and the potential health effects associated with these chemicals.
  
• Read about air contaminants that are released throughout the oil and gas development process.

For More Information

Other stories on potential health impacts related to oil and gas development:

• Read about how Laura Amos and her family's water well was contaminated after hydraulic fracturing of a well near their Colorado home
• Drilling fluids seep from pit and taint Colorado landowner's drinking water
• Condensate pit odors and fires affect Colorado residents
• Alabama family suspects health problems linked to coalbed methane hydraulic fracturing of coalbed methane wells

Related OGAP web pages

• Health issues related to oil and gas development in Colorado
  
• Chemicals used during oil and gas drilling and production in Colorado (Report by The Endocrine Disruption Exchange, Inc.)
  
• Oil and gas industry information on the use of toxic chemicals during drilling and production
  
• New Mexico Oil and Gas Health and Toxics Issues
  
• Colorado Oil and Gas Health and Toxics Issues
  
• News on oil and gas pollution issues in Colorado
  
• U.S. Oil and Gas Health And Toxics:  In the News

Other Web Sites

Orion Magazine November/December 2006 feature on "Voices from the Gas Fields" of Colorado.  This article features stories of the impacts being felt by residents in Garfield County, Colorado.  There are also audio and video clips with additional stories, and information on issues related to oil and gas and health.