New research has raised serious concerns about the health risks children face when growing up near oil and gas wells. Two recent U.S. studies have found a significantly higher risk of developing acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL) — a rare but aggressive childhood cancer — among kids living close to oil and gas drilling sites.
The studies focused on communities in Colorado and Pennsylvania, where oil and gas activity has surged in residential areas over the past two decades. Researchers compared children with leukemia to those without cancer using state cancer and birth records. They also mapped how close the children lived to oil and gas wells, particularly during key early-life stages like pregnancy and early childhood.
The results were alarming. In Colorado, children between ages 2 and 9 who lived in areas with the highest concentration of wells — especially within eight miles of their homes — were found to be at least twice as likely to be diagnosed with ALL. The Pennsylvania study revealed that kids born within 1.2 miles of active wells were 2 to 3 times more likely to develop ALL between ages 2 and 7, especially if the exposure occurred during pregnancy.
These findings support earlier research, including a 2017 Colorado study, which found children with ALL were four times more likely to live near dense clusters of oil and gas wells than children with other types of cancer.
Experts say the drilling process, which involves injecting chemicals deep underground and bringing up petroleum and wastewater, releases hazardous substances like benzene, a known cancer-causing agent. These chemicals can contaminate air and water near residential areas.
Although U.S. states have rules in place—such as minimum distances between wells and homes (known as setbacks)—those distances vary widely and may not go far enough to protect children’s health. Current setbacks range from just 200 feet to about 3,200 feet (1 km). But researchers argue even the widest buffer zones may still leave children exposed.
The studies highlight the need for stronger, more comprehensive policies, including wider setback limits and stricter monitoring of emissions from both new and existing wells. Researchers also emphasize the importance of looking at how oil and gas exposure interacts with other environmental and social factors that affect community health.
While more research is needed in other states like Texas and California, the message is already clear: proximity to oil and gas development may carry serious risks for children, and it’s time for lawmakers to take a closer look.
