Oil and Gas at Your Door? (2005 Edition) - Earthworks
Oil and Gas at Your Door? (2005 Edition) - Earthworks
Oil and Gas at Your Door? (2005 Edition) - Earthworks
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<strong>Oil</strong> <strong>and</strong> <strong>Gas</strong> Development <strong>and</strong> Impacts<br />
. . .apart from “annoyance”, people may feel a variety of neg<strong>at</strong>ive emotions when<br />
exposed to community noise, <strong>and</strong> may report anger, disappointment, diss<strong>at</strong>isfaction,<br />
withdrawal, helplessness, depression, anxiety, distraction, agit<strong>at</strong>ion, or exhaustion.<br />
. . . Social <strong>and</strong> behavioural effects include changes in overt everyday behaviour p<strong>at</strong>terns<br />
(e.g. closing windows, not using balconies, turning TV <strong>and</strong> radio to louder levels,<br />
writing petitions, complaining to authorities); adverse changes in social behaviour (e.g.<br />
aggression, unfriendliness, disengagement, non-particip<strong>at</strong>ion); adverse changes in<br />
social indic<strong>at</strong>ors (e.g. residential mobility, hospital admissions, drug consumption,<br />
accident r<strong>at</strong>es); <strong>and</strong> changes in mood (e.g. less happy, more depressed).<br />
The World Health Organiz<strong>at</strong>ion also reports th<strong>at</strong> “a large proportion of low-frequency components<br />
in noise may increase considerably the adverse effects on health.” In an epidemiological survey<br />
of sufferers from low frequency noise, the following health effects were documented: 239<br />
FIGURE I-30. HEALTH EFFECTS OF LOW FREQUENCY NOISE<br />
Source: Mirowska, M. <strong>and</strong> Mroz, E. 2000. 240<br />
The above health effects were felt by people experiencing low frequency noise in their homes.<br />
The New Mexico Game <strong>and</strong> Fish st<strong>at</strong>es th<strong>at</strong> even for human beings in a recre<strong>at</strong>ional setting, low<br />
frequency noise has been shown to cause stress reactions including raised blood pressure <strong>and</strong><br />
increased muscle tension. 241<br />
Unfortun<strong>at</strong>ely, many of the health effects of noise due to oil <strong>and</strong> gas oper<strong>at</strong>ions have not been<br />
scientifically documented. The lack of scientific study does not mean, however, th<strong>at</strong> noise<br />
issues rel<strong>at</strong>ed to oil <strong>and</strong> gas are insignificant. The loud, continuous noise during the drilling<br />
phase; the loud short-term noises from flaring or hydraulic fracturing; the intermittent whine of<br />
poorly maintained pump jacks <strong>and</strong> other equipment; <strong>and</strong> the loud or low frequency noise from<br />
compressors are common complaints rel<strong>at</strong>ed to oil <strong>and</strong> gas development. Numerous citizens<br />
have reported disruption of sleep <strong>and</strong> increased anxiety caused by noise from oil <strong>and</strong> gas developments.<br />
242<br />
I-48
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