Date of Graduation

5-2022

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Bachelor of Science

Degree Level

Undergraduate

Department

Health, Human Performance and Recreation

Advisor/Mentor

Robert Davis

Committee Member/Reader

Lisa Wood

Abstract

Gas flaring occurs at oil drilling sites around the world. It is a method to get rid of the extra gas, as well as to release pressure in emergency situations. The pollutants that are contributed to the air through routine gas flaring can be extremely harmful. Chemicals such as sulfur dioxide and methane are burned into the air we breathe (Baker Hughes, 2019). Not only does this have a direct impact on our health, but also on greenhouse gas emissions. The effects on greenhouse gas emissions impact diseases such as Malaria by increasing the temperature of our planet. The purpose of this research is to examine what gas flaring is, how it impacts the environment, and how that impacts malaria. This is to exemplify the impact we have on people's health around the world. Studies were done to assess the negative impacts that gas flaring has on the health of those living near oil drilling sites, as well as how it contributes to climate change. They compared health documents in six communities between 2013 and 2016, and collected primary data through surveys that asked residents a series of questions on how they believe their health is impacted by gas flaring. Research on how climate change impacts malaria is also examined. This study used progression data of malaria cases and the climate over the past 40 years to assess a correlation. They assessed the current state of malaria in Africa, and projected two scenarios of how malaria could spread throughout Africa by 2030, 2050, and 2080. The results of the first study show that those residing in areas near gas flaring sites in Africa are seeing increases in respiratory illnesses, eye irritation, chest pains, and asthma (Ryan et al., 2020). Rising temperatures due to climate change are projected to increase the transmission ability of malaria into new areas of Africa that have never carried the burden on this disease, as well as increase the severity and commonness of the disease in areas where it currently resides (Ryan et al., 2020). Concluding that health is statistically impacted by gas flaring and climate change.

Keywords

gas flaring, malaria, global health, climate change impacts

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