The American Lung Association just put out a strong statement on the danger of methane noting the unseen hazards of methane and the “cascade of risks” that harm communities.
“As the colder months settle in and we spend more time indoors, it’s crucial to recognize the unseen hazards that methane gas, often called “natural” gas, poses to our health and environment. From extraction to end use in our homes, methane contributes to a cascade of risks that harm communities, particularly those already burdened by pollution.”
Getting more people to understand the risks of “natural gas” is important and hopefully a statement by the American Lung Association will get some people’s attention. As they note, “not everyone knows that methane is also extracted from the ground and branded as ‘natural gas.’” It will be quite beneficial if the general public learns that the natural gas they cook with and use to heat their homes is predominantly methane (usually 85% or more).
Risks to Frontline Communities
Earlier this year we released our report Unmonitored and Unregulated which documented the risks of oilfield pollution to frontline communities with specific focus on the toxins that result from flaring and venting methane. The ALA explains the basics of how this happens.
“When gas leaks or is burned (“flared”) from wells, other pollutants are released, like cancer-causing volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and nitrogen oxides (NOx). NOx and VOCs are harmful to our lungs and can also form ground-level ozone (smog), which causes respiratory and cardiovascular distress. Communities living near gas wells are especially at risk from these pollutants.”
Communities living near all oil and gas infrastructure (not just wells) are also at risk as an article published this week by Public Health Watch made clear with alarming levels of benzene found in Houston-area communities. As we explain in our report, benzene comes out of the ground with methane
A new study out this week also links ozone exposure during pregnancy resulting in “increased odds of the baby having intellectual disability.” Methane emissions are direct contributors to ozone creation.
One of the reasons that this continues is because methane is invisible in the frontline communities or, as the ALA puts it, an “unseen hazard.”
The Climate Impacts of Methane
The ALA has a simple and accurate position on methane and the climate.
“In addition to the direct health harms caused by the gas industry, methane harms our health by significantly contributing to climate change, which is a current health emergency. Methane is a powerful climate pollutant. Its heat-trapping capacity is more than 80 times that of carbon dioxide. At every stage of this process, methane escapes into the atmosphere.”
It is a powerful climate pollutant but it is also critical to note, as they do, that methane escapes from every stage of the process — from extraction to export. The methane emissions start with a hole in the ground in West Texas, they continue at the processing facilities, they blast out of the compressor stations along the way and they are released at the LNG processing facilities as well.
Example of methane emissions during a compressor blowdown
ALA Recommends We Take Action
The American Lung Association didn’t stop at warning about risks but also suggests an action plan to protect your health and the climate which includes the following and we strongly agree:
When you can, upgrade to electric appliances like induction stoves and heat pumps to eliminate harmful indoor emissions.
Support local and federal policies promoting electrification and phasing out methane.
It is heartening to see the ALA sending such a strong message about the risks of methane while also noting we have the solutions we need to stop using methane. Please take action and help spread the word.
