The health impact of living near a natural gas leak
UC expert talks to BBC about issue of methane leaks at abandoned wells
The BBC talked to a University of Cincinnati professor about the ways leaking oil and natural gas wells might be affecting public health.
Studies have linked pollutants related to the oil and gas industry with as many as 710 premature deaths and tens of thousands of cases of childhood asthma nationwide each year. Leaking wells are known to release volatile organic compounds such as benzene, which has been linked to cancer.
UC Professor Amy Townsend-Small. Photo/Jay Yocis/UC
The BBC spoke to UC College of Arts and Sciences Professor Amy Townsend-Small who has been studying the national problem of leaking and abandoned wells across the country.
"The highest concentrations of these non-methane hydrocarbons are in gas at wellheads, which also have the highest emission rates," Townsend-Small told the BBC.
Millions of Americans live within a mile of an orphaned oil or gas well or abandoned coal mine, according to the U.S. Department of the Interior. These sites are notorious for creating air and water pollution.
Congress set aside $4.7 billion in President Biden's Infrastructure Law to inventory and cap abandoned oil and gas wells. The initiative is expected to help address the escape of methane, a greenhouse gas that is a key driver of climate change.
In a study published last year in the journal PLOS Climate, Townsend-Small recommended a proposal to cap "marginal" or low-producing wells, many of which have also been found to be leaking.
She found that these marginal wells leak methane at a disproportionate rate compared to their meager production of oil or natural gas.
Featured image at top: UC graduate Jacob Hoschouer measures methane emissions at the site of an abandoned well in Texas. Photo/Provided
Related Stories
Cincinnati researchers want to know if MRIs can work better
June 28, 2024
WVXU and the Cincinnati Business Courier highlighted a new collaboration between the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, UC Health GE HealthCare, JobsOhio, REDI Cincinnati and Cincinnati Children’s to create an MRI Research and Development Center of Excellence located on UC’s medical campus.
UC opens Blood Cancer Healing Center
June 28, 2024
Media outlets including WLWT, Local 12, Spectrum News, the Cincinnati Enquirer and Cleveland.com highlighted the opening of the University of Cincinnati Cancer Center's Blood Cancer Healing Center.
Financial factors to consider when moving
June 27, 2024
Moving can be a stressful and expensive endeavor. When it comes time to move, there are important financial implications to consider, Gary Painter, PhD, the academic director of the University of Cincinnati’s Carl H. Lindner College of Business real estate program and a professor of real estate, told USA Today.
New project aims to better support teen mothers in Adams County
June 27, 2024
WCPO highlighted a partnership between the University of Cincinnati and the Adams County Health Department that is aiming to provide better support for teen mothers in the county.
Free Wi-Fi, work area coming to Greater Cincinnati
June 27, 2024
St. Lawrence Park in Price Hill now has free Wi-Fi and a furnished outdoor space for community members to access digital needs. The space is part of The Nodes Project, which stands for “Neighborhoods of Design Engagement": a collaboration between UC DAAP communication designers and community entities.
Study aimed at reducing opioid overdose deaths presents results
June 27, 2024
The University of Cincinnati's John Winhusen and Caroline Freiermuth discussed the evidence-based practices implemented during the HEALing Communities Study to fight the opioid epidemic with Spectrum News.
UC alum credits journalism program with early success
June 26, 2024
Zachary Jarrell came to the University of Cincinnati in 2019 to pursue a degree in statistics. In 2023, he graduated with a Bachelor’s in Journalism. For many undergraduates, the journey through college rarely takes the expected track. Detours happen, and majors change. When plans switch up, it can be helpful to a student’s success to find support. For Jarrell, it was the people he worked alongside in the journalism department who helped him on his journey. It has left a lasting impression on his life so far, guiding him to multiple internships as an undergraduate, real-world experience in prominent news outlets, and eventually a successful career in the highly competitive field of journalism.
University of Cincinnati, UC Health collaborate with GE HealthCare on MRI research center
June 26, 2024
The University of Cincinnati and UC Health are collaborating with GE HealthCare, JobsOhio, REDI Cincinnati and Cincinnati Children’s to create an MRI Research and Development Center of Excellence located on UC’s medical campus.
The health impact of living near a natural gas leak
June 25, 2024
UC College of Arts and Sciences Professor Amy Townsend-Small talks to the BBC about the health issues faced by neighbors of leaking natural gas wells.
Male birth control gel inches towards FDA approval
June 25, 2024
The University of Cincinnati's Wesley Baas spoke with Yahoo News and the Cincinnati Enquirer about a new male birth control gel that could be close to receiving FDA approval.