Heart disease

Vulnerable people who are the most impacted includechildren, seniors, frontline environmental justice

communities and industry workers.

Health Impacts

Make a difference in your home and community

Adversecognitive effects

More asthmaepisodes Hormone

disruptions

Eye, nose, throat,and skin irritation

Contact your local energy company to see how your homecan use clean energy. 

Cooking can cause indoor air pollution, gas stoves morethan electric. 

Cooking with electric energy doesn't impact the taste ofthe food.

Natural gas is a major source of methane.

Methane is a potent greenhouse gas thattraps more heat than carbon dioxide (CO2).

Methane contributes to climate change,and worsening air quality. 

The Carbon Economy increases health disparities and fuels the climate crisis: 

CH 4

Support local renewableclean energy sources:

solar and wind. Support Zero Emissionsvehicles & off-road

equipment.

Natural Gas extraction and production impactsthe health of nearby communities and workers

Breathingproblems

Leukemia (cancer)

The Impacts of Natural Gas onPublic Health and the EnvironmentNG • CNG • Near Zero • Liquid NG • "Renewable" NG •  Geothermal • Biomass • Biofuel  • Biogenic

Natural Gas used as afreight transport fuel increases

greenhouse gas emissions

Trucks from the Ports of Long Beachand Los Angeles travel about

791,000 tons

389 millionmiles per year

If the transport was powered bynatural gas (CNG),

of CO2 equivalent (greenhouse gases)would be emitted

Mental healthproblems

Reproductive harmand birth defects

Sleep disturbances

Supported by: National Instituteof Environmental Health Sciences

Grants #5P30ES007048 and #P01ES022845

Graphic designed by: Wendy Gutschow/USCand USC Environmental Health Centers

This inforgraphic is a collaboration between 

@USCEnviroHealth@USCEHC

Graphics in printable PDF format andreferences can be found at: 

https://envhealthcenters.usc.edu/infographics/infographic-natural-gas

Most natural gascomes fromtraditional drilling.

of the natural gas distributioninfrastructure is prone toleaks. Gas escapes throughintentional leaks, faultypipelines and blowouts.

A small amount of naturalgas comes from sourcessuch as landfillsand decomposing animalwaste.

Current evidence suggests the extraction and use of natural gasadversely impacts, community, health and the environment.

Toxic pollutants that harm health and climate are released throughout all stages of natural  gas production and use. 

Compressor stations use pressure andheat to reduce the volume of natural gasto continue transporting it along thepipeline. They can emit hazardouspollutants and greenhouse gases.

30%

Storage facilities:while natural gas isbeing stored,chemicals canescape and causehealth impacts. 

End Users and Consumers

Disposal issues for toxicwater that flows backafter fracking process

Contamination ofdrinking, ground, and

surface water

Significant levels ofradium and methanehave been found in

drinking water

Water and Natural Gas Extraction

Processing plants, also called"specialty refineries" process thenatural gas into specific gas fueltypes such as methane, ethane,butane, and propane. 

Drilling

for

natural

gas

produces

toxic

emissions.

Natural gas is not"clean" and is a

hazard to humanhealth and theenvironment. 

Impacts along the Natural Gas Pipeline