Rural light pollution from shale gas development and associated sleep and subjective well-being

Andrew Boslett, Elaine Hill, Lala Ma and Lujia Zhang

Resource and Energy Economics, 2021, vol. 64, issue C

Abstract: The shale oil and gas boom has had large economic, environmental, and social impacts on rural communities in the United States. This study provides novel estimates of the impacts of shale oil and gas development on light pollution in rural areas of the United States. Using nationwide, time-calibrated DMSP-OLS database from 2000 to 2012, we find robust evidence that the shale oil and gas boom significantly increased light pollution in rural areas. We then assess associations between horizontal drilling and subjective self-rated health using nationwide data from the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) from 2000 to 2012. Our findings suggest that insufficient sleep and poor health (physical or mental) are associated with increased drilling in rural areas. These results provide support for drilling-related light pollution as an additional environmental pathway of concern for public health beyond the mechanisms of air or water pollution.

Keywords: Natural resources; Shale development; Light pollution (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q33 Q35 Q50 Q51 Q57 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (8)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:resene:v:64:y:2021:i:c:s0928765521000051

DOI: 10.1016/j.reseneeco.2021.101220

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