Here is yet another reason to stop using fossil fuels. Fossil fuels are destroying not only the climate, but also our health. The health impacts of using oil and gas are devastating—and expensive. Research performed at University College London and the Stockholm Environment Institute looked at health issues caused by the oil and gas supply chain, from exploration to end use. The highest number of impacts were seen in California, Texas, New York, Pennsylvania and New Jersey.
Health impacts of oil and gas
The research found air pollution from oil and gas causes a major share of all air pollution health impacts in the US. Each year, air pollution causes 90,000 premature deaths and over 10,000 pre-term births. Air pollution was connected to 216,000 childhood-onset asthma cases and 1,610 cancer cases per year.
What about the financial cost of illness caused by oil and gas? We all know how expensive heath care has become. The cost of just one emergency room visit for asthma in Pennsylvania this year is $5,603. Ninety percent of new childhood asthma cases were related to nitrogen dioxide pollution from oil and gas. Asthma in all age groups is responsible for 2 million emergency room visits, half a million hospitalizations, 14 million doctor visits and 3,600 deaths per year.
Health problems caused by oil and gas can lead to the inability to pay health care costs. In 2024, a total of 88 billion dollars of medical debt was accumulated by just 20% of Americans. Sixty-two percent of bankruptcies were related to medical debt.
From NIH PubMed Central: Medical costs continue to outpace incomes, 29 million remain uninsured, and many of those with health insurance face unpredictable and unaffordable out-of-pocket costs as copayments and deductibles ratchet up. And few Americans have adequate disability coverage, leaving them vulnerable to illness-related income loss that amplifies the financial distress caused by medical bills.
Think about this: we have a real problem with homelessness in this country. Inability to pay for health care is a major factor in causing homelessness, topped only by job loss. And job loss can result from inability to work because of illness. Minorities are most affected, but it can happen to anyone—even you.
Take action
Are we really willing to accept the devastating health consequences of using oil and gas? What’s the solution? Number one is to stop using fossil fuels, switch to renewables like wind and solar, replace gas stoves and oil or gas furnaces with electric, and live a simpler lifestyle. You can pay for switching to renewables now or pay for the health consequences later.
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