Oil & Gas Pollution Linked To 90,000 Premature Deaths A Year In The US - CleanTechnica

Source: cleantechnica
Author: @cleantechnica
Published: 8/23/2025
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Read original articleA recent study published in Science Advances reveals that fossil fuel pollution in the United States is responsible for approximately 90,000 premature deaths annually, a figure dramatically higher than many well-known causes of death such as the 9/11 attacks or automobile accidents. This mortality is linked to the entire oil and gas life cycle, including extraction, transportation, refining, distribution, and combustion, which produce harmful pollutants like fine particulate matter (PM2.5), nitrogen dioxide (NO2), and ozone. Beyond premature deaths, the study estimates 10,350 pre-term births, 216,000 cases of childhood-onset asthma, and 1,610 lifetime cancers attributable to these pollutants.
Importantly, the research highlights significant racial and ethnic disparities in exposure and health outcomes, with non-white populations—particularly Black and Asian communities—bearing the greatest burden. These disparities are most pronounced in downstream activities concentrated in states like Louisiana and Texas. The article argues that emphasizing the direct human health impacts of fossil fuel pollution
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energyfossil-fuelspollutionpremature-deathsclimate-changerenewable-energyenvironmental-impact