Katerina Swanson
Fossil fuels are non-renewable natural resources that include oil, methane gas, and coal. The burning of fossil fuels releases harmful emissions that contribute to climate change and have been linked to an increased risk of cancer. In the United States, it is estimated that 350,000 premature deaths in 2018 were attributed to fossil fuel-related pollution, with certain states like Pennsylvania, Ohio, and West Virginia experiencing higher rates of cancer due to their proximity to oil refineries and petrochemical plants. Additionally, communities of color and low-income communities are disproportionately affected by the health impacts of fossil fuel pollution. While regulations and policies are being considered to mitigate these risks, the connection between fossil fuel emissions and cancer remains a pressing public health concern.
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What You'll Learn
Benzene exposure and blood cancers
Benzene is a colourless, flammable liquid with a sweet odour. It is one of the top 20 produced chemicals in the United States and is used to make other chemicals that are used to make plastics, resins, and nylon and synthetic fibres.
Benzene exposure has been linked to blood cancers, particularly leukaemia. Studies have shown that benzene causes chromosomal aberrations in the peripheral blood lymphocytes of chronically exposed humans. Benzene exposure has been associated with higher levels of chromosomal changes commonly observed in acute myeloid leukaemia (AML). AML-related chromosomal changes are also produced by benzene metabolites in human cell cultures. These data provide strong evidence for the induction of AML by benzene through previously proposed genetic pathways.
Long-term exposure to benzene primarily harms the bone marrow, the soft inner parts of bones where new blood cells are formed. This can result in anaemia, a low red blood cell count that can cause weakness and fatigue. Benzene exposure can also lead to a low white blood cell count, reducing the body's ability to fight infections, and potentially leading to life-threatening situations. Additionally, it can cause a low blood platelet count, resulting in excessive bruising and bleeding.
Short-term exposure to high levels of benzene requires immediate action. The CDC recommends removing any contaminated clothing, washing exposed areas with soap and water, and seeking medical care as soon as possible. Benzene exposure can be measured through blood or breath tests, and its breakdown products can be detected in urine. However, these tests have limitations in assessing long-term exposure and predicting potential health effects.
The health risks associated with benzene exposure, especially at low occupational and environmental levels, warrant further investigation. The oil and gas industry's emissions of hazardous air pollutants, including benzene, are significantly increasing the cancer risk for millions of people in the United States. This highlights the urgent need for regulatory measures to address the issue.
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Proximity to oil refineries and cancer rate
Fossil fuel emissions are driving climate change and increasing cancer risk. Pollution from the oil and gas industry emits hazardous air pollutants like benzene, formaldehyde, and acetaldehyde, which put millions of people at risk of cancer.
The association between proximity to oil refineries and cancer rates has been the subject of several studies, particularly in Texas. One study examined the rates of bladder, breast, colon, lung, lymphoma, and prostate cancer in relation to proximity to an oil refinery in Texas. The results showed that living within 0-10 and 11-20 miles of an oil refinery was associated with a significantly higher risk of being diagnosed with lymphoma compared to living 21-30 miles away. Similarly, another study found that proximity to an oil refinery was linked to a higher risk of multiple cancer types, including bladder, breast, colon, lung, lymphoma, and prostate cancer.
The findings suggest that the closer one lives to an oil refinery, the greater the risk of developing cancer. This is a public health concern, as mass industrial production and exposure to potential carcinogens from nearby oil refineries can impact the health of nearby residents.
Additionally, the expansion of oil production in the United States has led to record-high production levels, with Texas as the largest producer. This has sparked debates about the potential health risks associated with emitted air pollutants. The International Agency for Research on Cancer has identified emissions from the petrochemical industries as environmental carcinogens.
It is worth noting that the mechanisms by which oil and gas sites emit hazardous air pollutants also contribute to methane emissions, further exacerbating the impact on climate change and public health.
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Fossil fuel pollution and cancer-causing chemicals
Fossil fuels emit harmful air pollutants, including sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, particulate matter, carbon monoxide, and mercury, all of which are detrimental to the environment and human health. These pollutants contribute to air pollution, which has been linked to various health issues, including cancer.
One of the significant concerns related to fossil fuel pollution and cancer is the impact of the oil and gas industry. According to a cancer risk analysis by the Clean Air Task Force, the sector will expose approximately 14 million people in the United States to an increased risk of cancer due to hazardous air pollutants. These pollutants include benzene, formaldehyde, and acetaldehyde, which are known carcinogens. The growth in the cancer risk from the industry is attributed to the expansion of oil and gas operations. Certain areas, such as Pennsylvania, North Dakota, and West Virginia, have been identified as having high cancer risks, with residents facing risks above the EPA's threshold of concern.
Additionally, studies have found a correlation between proximity to oil refineries and an increased risk of various cancer types, including bladder, breast, colon, lung, lymphoma, and prostate cancer. The data suggests that individuals living closer to oil refineries are more likely to be diagnosed with these cancers.
The impact of fossil fuel pollution on cancer risk is not limited to a specific region or community. It disproportionately affects communities of color and low-income communities. For example, in "Cancer Alley," a predominantly Black and low-income area in Louisiana, the cancer risk is nearly 50 times higher than the national average due to the presence of numerous chemical plants and oil refineries.
Furthermore, the burning of fossil fuels releases toxic chemicals that contribute to air pollution and have been linked to respiratory illnesses, cardiovascular diseases, and adverse pregnancy outcomes, in addition to cancer. The health impacts of fossil fuel pollution underscore the urgency of transitioning to clean energy sources and implementing regulations to reduce emissions and protect public health.
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Health impacts of fossil fuels on communities of colour
Fossil fuel emissions are driving climate change and increasing cancer risk. A recent cancer risk analysis found that the oil and gas sector will put 14 million people across the U.S. at increased risk of cancer by emitting hazardous air pollutants. This includes states like Pennsylvania, North Dakota, and West Virginia, where people in several counties are exposed to cancer risks above the EPA's threshold level of concern.
The health impacts of fossil fuels disproportionately affect communities of color. This is due to systemic racism, which enables the fossil fuel industry to externalize the costs of pollution and environmental degradation onto these communities. Racist practices such as redlining and housing discrimination, and longstanding social and racial inequalities have created a system where the most dangerous impacts of pollution are borne by disadvantaged communities, particularly Black, Indigenous, Latinx, Asian, Brown, and poor communities.
The fossil fuel supply chain and infrastructure in the United States are disproportionately located in communities of color, creating inequitable landscapes of environmental health risk. These communities have nearly twice the density of oil and gas wells, and the drilling and operating of these wells worsen air pollution and increase health risks. Residents living nearby are more susceptible to respiratory diseases, cardiovascular diseases, depression, and poor birth outcomes.
The public health hazards from air and water pollution and the risks associated with climate change fall disproportionately on communities of color. Exposure to fossil fuel pollution is linked to negative health impacts for people living near these sources, and phasing out fossil fuels will deliver immediate public health improvements to these historically targeted communities.
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Cancer Alley in Louisiana
Fossil fuel emissions have been linked to an increased risk of cancer. A report by the Clean Air Task Force found that the oil and gas sector will expose 14 million people across the U.S. to an increased risk of cancer by emitting hazardous air pollutants.
The area has gained notoriety due to its alarmingly high cancer rates, earning it the name "Cancer Alley." The extreme pollution from the fossil fuel and petrochemical industries has devastated the health and lives of residents, with elevated rates of cancer, respiratory ailments, and adverse maternal, reproductive, and newborn health outcomes. The air pollution levels in Cancer Alley are among the highest in the United States, and the risk of cancer from industrial pollution is significantly heightened in this region.
The Denka/DuPont neoprene plant in St. John the Baptist Parish has been identified by the EPA as having a cancer risk from air pollution over 700 times the national average. The Biden administration filed a lawsuit against the plant, citing increased cancer risks in the predominantly Black community. However, the Justice Department later dropped the case due to Trump's policy of ending federal DEI initiatives.
The Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality and the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) have been criticized for failing to enforce federal laws and protect residents from the harmful impacts of the fossil fuel and petrochemical industries. Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International have released reports highlighting the devastating health and human rights consequences of these industries on Cancer Alley residents.
Community advocacy groups in Louisiana have been actively advocating for change, and researchers from Johns Hopkins University have provided them with scientific data to support their efforts. Despite some progress, the lack of adequate regulatory risk assessments continues to endanger the health and well-being of those living in Cancer Alley.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, air pollution from fossil fuel combustion has been linked to an increased risk of multiple cancer types, including bladder, breast, colon, lung, lymphoma, and prostate cancer.
Fossil fuel emissions contain toxic pollutants such as benzene, formaldehyde, and acetaldehyde, which are known carcinogens linked to blood cancers like leukemia.
Living near oil refineries or fossil fuel plants increases the risk of cancer due to exposure to hazardous air pollutants. In Louisiana's "Cancer Alley," the cancer risk is nearly 50 times higher than the national average.
Yes, communities of color and low-income communities are disproportionately harmed by fossil fuel pollution, with Black and Hispanic Americans exposed to significantly higher levels of particulate matter pollution.
Regulations and policies aimed at reducing fossil fuel emissions, such as eliminating fossil fuel subsidies and implementing clean electricity standards, can help lower the cancer risk for vulnerable populations.
