Executive Summary
Consider these facts :
•• Oil and gas production sites are a major contributor to air pollution .
Counties – counties that experienced high levels of oil and gas development in 2020 .
New Mexico :
• Chronic exposure to air pollution worsens serious health conditions , including asthma , COPD , and lung cancer ; premature birth , birth defects , and developmental delays ; heart disease , obesity , kidney disease , liver dysfunction , and type 2 diabetes .
• Pre-existing diseases or medical conditions increase the risk of hospitalization or death in patients diagnosed with COVID-19 .
Given these facts , this report asks an important question : Does exposure to air pollution from oil and gas extraction and processing increase rates of infection and death from COVID-19 ?
We examined five counties in Colorado and five in New Mexico , each with significant oil and gas operations , and made the following initial observations .
Colorado :
The number of COVID-19 cases was higher than expected in three counties and lower than expected in two . The number of cases was disproportionately high among people aged 20-29 years and Hispanics . More COVID-19 deaths were observed than expected in Adams , Broomfield , and Weld
The number of COVID-19 cases was higher than expected in three counties and lower than expected in two . Disproportionately high levels of cases were observed among people aged 20-49 years and Native Americans . Higher numbers of deaths from COVID-19 than expected were found in one county and lower than expected in four . Adjustment for age and / or race would likely modify these results , but age and race distributions for COVID-19 deaths are not publicly available in New Mexico .
Recommendations :
• As oil and gas operations add to the cumulative air pollution burden , take all available steps to reduce pollution from these sources .
• Because oil and gas pollutant emissions can be controlled , focus efforts on reducing those emissions , whether from leaks , flaring , blowdowns and other deliberate releases , or other causes .
• Our study was an initial inquiry into impacts of oil and gas pollution on COVID-19 and did not generate definitive answers . Rather , this report constitutes only a first step in that inquiry . Further research is needed .
PHYSICIANS FOR SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY | WWW . PSR . ORG
AIR POLLUTION-COVID REPORT | 3