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Health Risks in West Virginia from Oil and Gas Air Pollution

February 22, 2017 Category: Climate

This mix of pollutants includes methane, a very potent climate pollutant, and enormous amounts of toxic air pollutants and pollutants that cause ozone smog pollution. Toxic air pollutants cause cancer and other diseases, while ozone smog can cause a variety of health problems, such as asthma attacks and worsening the effects of bronchitis and emphysema. With oil and gas wells spread throughout the state, West Virginians bear much of the health risks caused by oil and natural gas industry air pollution.