We obtained earthquake location, date, time, and magnitude data from the publicly available USGS Advanced National Seismic System’s comprehensive earthquake catalog. We hypothesized that during months with one or more earthquake of M 4 or greater, the percentage of searches related to anxiety would increase significantly. Geological Survey (USGS) monthly counts of earthquakes. The analysis relied on 2010–2017 Google search data to track monthly online queries related to anxiety and U.S. We not only identified relevant Google queries by search term but rather gained access to Google’s machine-learning techniques that categorize searches into health-related and non-health related categories. We used time-series methods to estimate the relationship between earthquakes Oklahomans could sense (≥ M 4) and population anxiety, as measured by Google queries. 30– 32 These data avoid, for example, social desirability biases associated with mental health disorder reporting. Prior studies have, however, have demonstrated the utility of using Google searches 29 to estimate the incidence of anxiety. 27, 28 Understanding the health implications of environmental hazards requires temporally resolved epidemiologic indicators of anxiety, which currently do not exist. 23 Anxiety, moreover, may worsen the course of other illness, 24 such as cardiovascular disease, 25, 26 and may also increase the risk of adverse birth outcomes. In 2013 in the United States, anxiety disorders were the fourth leading cause of years lived with disability. 21 Research in the Netherlands, moreover, finds that residents exposed to earthquakes caused by energy production express not only concern over quake-associated damage to homes and housing values but also feelings of powerlessness, worry, and anger. states revealed that induced earthquakes elicited more negative feelings than equivalent but naturally occurring earthquakes. 19, 20 An online survey of 325 participants from 40 U.S. 18 Second, people apparently judge man-made hazards as more provocative than those that occur naturally. First, environmental disasters (e.g., large earthquakes) induce psychological distress, especially anxiety. 14– 17 The contribution of injection-induced earthquakes to these associations has not, however, been empirically explored despite two circumstances that suggest a link. 10Īlthough many factors-economic, political, and social-appear to shape public opinion regarding unconventional natural gas production, 11– 13 individuals living near production facilities have reported reduced life satisfaction, social stress, negative psychological states, and disruption in sense of place. Cars rock noticeably, dishes and windows may shift, and if at night some individuals will awaken. 9 A ≥ M 4 quake feels like a heavy truck striking a building. 8 In 2010, Oklahoma experienced two earthquakes ≥ M 4 by 2016, it experienced 21. 6– 8 By 2014, the percent of ≥ magnitude ( M) 3 earthquakes associated with wastewater injection wells reached 98% in the central and eastern United States. 4, 5 Fluid injection, particularly at high rates, can induce earthquakes. 5 Well operators usually inject wastewater into class II injection wells to enhance oil and gas recovery or for disposal. 3, 4 In Oklahoma, oil and gas production returned 35 billion liters of wastewater to the surface in 2007. Each of the approximately 300,000 hydraulically fractured or “fracked” wells in the United States 2 requires initial injection of 6–20 million liters of water. 1 Access to previously undeveloped shale formations through horizontal and directional drilling and pressurized high-volume hydraulic fracturing has fueled this increase. United States natural gas production increased by 40% and crude oil by 82% from 2006 to 2016.
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