Uhl's team reports on asthma effects of smog from oil, gas facilities
A first-of-its-kind analysis of the health impacts in the U.S. from ozone smog pollution caused by the oil and gas industry found that pollution will take a toll on Bay State kids.
The "Gasping for Air" report by the Clean Air Task Force said that even people who live far away from drilling rigs and other oil and gas equipment experience negative health impacts. And according to Sarah Uhl, program director with the organization, Massachusetts children already experience some of the most severe effects, which peak during the summer months.
"Kids there are experiencing more than 4,000 asthma attacks every summer, directly attributable to unnecessary air pollution, I should say, from the oil and gas industry,” Uhl said.
She said she calls it "unnecessary" pollution because the industry can take steps to clean up the leaks that cause it, by stopping the process of venting and flaring natural gas at well sites.
