Colorado Public Radio story illustrates dangers of loose reporting

Published on July 08, 2024

On June 27, Colorado Public Radio published an article titled “Living near oil and gas sites in Colorado could make irregular heartbeat symptoms worse, CU study says”.

This headline is misleading and counter to the findings stated in the study. The first page of the study states, “The analysis of the total study population does not provide strong evidence of an association between AF [atrial fibrillation] exacerbation and proximity to O&G [oil and gas] well sites during…or after…development.” The study does find women older than 80 years have an increased risk of AF exacerbation and emergency room visits.

The study makes the connection that oil and gas well sites are a source of noise and air pollution, and because past studies have shown environmental stressors like air pollution and noise make AF worse then it’s plausible that living near oil and gas wells make AF worse. The study in question did not, however, explicitly look at data to quantify the air pollution or noise attributable to these oil and gas sites. We don’t discount the robustness of the data analysis, but the results themselves seem to be more of a statement that says there’s no there, there.

The heightened risk to older women is interesting and does require further research, as well as understanding by health care providers to ensure their patients are aware of potential environmental stressors. However, the findings from this study are not sufficient to motivate the creation of regulations since there is no significant connection between AF exacerbation and living near oil and gas well site development for the general population.

Dr. Annareli Morales, PhD
Air Quality Policy Analyst
Weld County Department of Public Health and Environment
970-400-2222 | amorales@weld.gov