Proximity to oil, gas wells linked to ALL

Likewise, there were no significant associations between density of oil and gas development and NHL. The adjusted odds ratio was 0.99 for the highest IDW well count tertile.

Limitations and next steps

The researchers said this study was limited by the low occurrence of ALL and NHL in rural Colorado, lack of specific age at cancer diagnosis, and the fact that all study participants had been diagnosed with cancer.

In addition, the study was limited by the lack of information on specific activities at the well sites, place of residence before cancer diagnosis, other sources of pollution around the residence, and individual characteristics such as common infections and family history of cancer.

The team said future research should incorporate information on oil and gas development activities and production levels, as well as levels of specific pollutants of interest such as benzene, near homes, schools, and day care centers.

They recommended that such research consider specific ages and residential histories, compare cases to controls without cancer, and address other potential confounders and and environmental stressors.