TitleAssociations between Residential Proximity to Oil and Gas Drilling and Term Birth Weight and Small-for-Gestational-Age Infants in Texas: A Difference-in-Differences Analysis.
Publication TypeJournal Article
Year of Publication2021
AuthorsWillis, MD, Hill, EL, Boslett, A, Kile, ML, Carozza, SE, Hystad, P
JournalEnviron Health Perspect
Volume129
Issue7
Pagination77002
Date Published07/2021
ISSN1552-9924
Abstract

BACKGROUND: Oil and natural gas extraction may produce environmental pollution at levels that affect reproductive health of nearby populations. Available studies have primarily focused on unconventional gas drilling and have not accounted for local population changes that can coincide with drilling activity.

OBJECTIVE: Our study sought to examine associations between residential proximity to oil and gas drilling and adverse term birth outcomes using a difference-in-differences study design.

METHODS: We created a retrospective population-based term birth cohort in Texas between 1996 and 2009 composed of mother-infant dyads () living from an oil or gas site. We implemented a difference-in-differences approach to estimate associations between drilling activities and infant health: term birth weight and term small for gestational age (SGA). Using linear and logistic regression, we modeled interactions between births before (unexposed) or during (exposed) drilling activity and residential proximity near (0-1, 1-2, or ) or far () from an active or future drilling site, adjusting for individual- and neighborhood-level characteristics.

RESULTS: The adjusted mean difference in term birth weight for mothers living 0-1 vs. from a current or future drilling site was [95% confidence interval (CI): , ] for births during active vs. future drilling. The corresponding adjusted odds ratio for SGA was 1.02 (95% CI: 0.98, 1.06). Negative associations with term birth weight were observed for the 1-2 and near groups, and no consistent differences were identified by type of drilling activity. Larger, though imprecise, adverse associations were found for infants born to Hispanic women, women with the lowest educational attainment, and women living in cities.

CONCLUSIONS: Residing near oil and gas drilling sites during pregnancy was associated with a small reduction in term birth weight but not SGA, with some evidence of environmental injustices. Additional work is needed to investigate specific drilling-related exposures that might explain these associations. https://doi.org/10.1289/EHP7678.

DOI10.1289/EHP7678
Alternate JournalEnviron Health Perspect
PubMed ID34287013
PubMed Central IDPMC8293911
Grant ListDP5 OD021338 / OD / NIH HHS / United States
F31 ES029801 / ES / NIEHS NIH HHS / United States
TL1 TR002371 / TR / NCATS NIH HHS / United States