Environment/Climate Change
Residential Proximity to Oil and Gas Development and Prevalence of Postpartum Depression in a North American Preconception Cohort Study Kaylin Anne Vrkljan* Kaylin Vrkljan Amelia K. Wesselink Erin J. Campbell Martha R. Koenig Dmitrii Krivorotko Jordan R. Kuiper Nicole C. Deziel Jonathan J. Buonocore Yael L. Nillni Lauren A. Wise Mary D. Willis
Background: As oil and gas production continues to expand, a growing body of literature shows that communities residing near oil and gas development (OGD) have worse mental health outcomes than those living far from OGD. Postpartum depression (PPD) affects ~15% of birthing people and may be influenced by environmental exposures. To date, no studies have examined the relation between OGD and PPD.
Methods: We used data collected between 2017 and 2024 from U.S. participants in Pregnancy Study Online (PRESTO), an internet-based prospective preconception cohort study. At 6 months postpartum, participants who reported a birth were invited to complete a questionnaire, which includes a validated scale for symptoms of PPD (Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale, EPDS) and self-reported physician diagnosis of PPD. We calculated the distance between a participant’s geocoded address at the time of the postpartum questionnaire and the nearest active OGD site. We examined the relation between residential proximity to an active OGD site and prevalence of PPD (EPDS >13 for primary models). We estimated prevalence ratios (PRs) and 95% CIs using log-binomial models, adjusting for maternal age, geographic region, year, and season.
Results: Among 1,021 participants, the prevalence of PPD was 11.6% by the EPDS and 20.5% when physician-diagnosed cases were added. Residence within 5 km of an active OGD site was associated with a higher prevalence of PPD (PR=1.3, 95% CI: 0.9, 2.0) compared with residences 20-50 km away. This association attenuated among participants who resided at further distances (e.g., 5-10 km [PR=1.1, 95% CI: 0.7, 1.9], 10-15 km [PR=0.9, 95% CI: 0.5, 1.5], 15-20 km [PR=0.7, 95% CI: 0.3, 1.5]). The association was weaker when we considered clinically-diagnosed PPD in conjunction with the EPDS (PR=1.1, 95% CI: 0.8, 1.5).
Conclusion: Preliminary results suggest that living within 5 km of an active OGD site may be associated with slightly higher prevalence of PPD.