A new analysis from PSE Healthy Energy reveals that fine particulate matter emissions from petrochemical facilities contribute to nearly 1,500 premature deaths annually, with estimated economic impacts of $17 billion. The study found that industry growth led to a 12% increase in greenhouse gas emissions between 2012 and 2021.
A new study found that US fire departments spent over $564 million in 2018 responding to gas leaks, with the median cost estimated at $2,600 per incident. The study analyzed data from 15 years of emergency response incidents and estimated the burden on fire departments.
Researchers found benzene in 97% of North American natural gas samples, posing a health risk to households with small leaks. The study suggests improved transparency and stricter regulations can improve indoor air quality and public health.
A literature review found that several commonly used natural gas odorants may induce a range of adverse health symptoms at very low concentrations. The review's findings suggest that these odorants could pose health risks at much lower exposure levels than previously suspected.
A new study by PSE Healthy Energy and the University of California, Berkeley aims to investigate the relationship between exposure to air pollution, heat, and humidity with birth outcomes. The research will analyze disparities in local exposure across the region and develop targeted solutions to protect vulnerable populations.
A new report by researchers from IEER and PSE Healthy Energy estimates that 400,000 Maryland households face high energy bills exceeding six percent of their income. The study suggests that investing in efficiency and clean energy for low-income households can save billions compared to bill assistance alone.
A new study published in Environmental Research Letters found that natural gas transported by interstate pipelines contains hazardous air pollutants and known human carcinogens. The study analyzed industry-reported data and found surprising levels of harmful air pollutants, including benzene, mercury, radon, and hydrogen sulfide.
A new study by PSE Healthy Energy reveals that over 16 billion barrels of oil and gas wastewater were disposed of in unlined pits, contaminating regional aquifers with salts and toxins. The Tulare Basin, home to four million people, is at risk due to a lack of regulatory protections for groundwater near these disposal sites.
A new study found that policies in Pennsylvania aimed at protecting public health from fracking were ineffective due to frequent use of exemptions. The study, published in Energy Policy, analyzed well pad locations and found no significant change in how wells were sited after the state's setback policy took effect in 2012.
A new report from PSE Healthy Energy synthesizes the public health dimensions of wildfire prevention and mitigation strategies. The study finds that distributed clean energy resources can support critical services during wildfires and provide climate and air quality benefits. The researchers emphasize the need for public health perspec...
A new study finds that California's rooftop-solar adoption is closely correlated with socioeconomic status and health indicators in disadvantaged communities. The study suggests that state programs must target these communities to improve access to clean energy, rather than relying on broad income classifications.
A comprehensive study tracking 26 years of waste disposal reveals that most oil and gas waste from Pennsylvania stays within the state, posing human health hazards. The study also found that conventional drilling operations accounted for nearly one-third of all waste.
Study finds that 17 state oil and gas regulations leave the nation's water supply vulnerable to contamination. Groundwater resources are increasingly being used for drinking, food-crop irrigation, and household uses due to increased demand and climate change impacts.
A study found that 17.6 million Americans live within one mile of an active oil or gas well, correlating to increased risk of heart and neurological problems, cancers, and adverse birth outcomes. States with high percentages of residents living near active wells include West Virginia and Oklahoma.
A study by PSE Healthy Energy found that many hazardous chemicals used in hydraulic fracturing are also used in routine oil- and gas-field activities, including drilling, cleaning, and maintenance. These findings have major implications for chemical disclosure policies and risk assessments of oil and gas development.
A report by PSE Healthy Energy projects that new Marcellus development will nearly double natural gas production and increase greenhouse gas emissions by tripling. The report forecasts thousands of new natural gas wells, which will drive a second drilling boom in Pennsylvania.