A team of researchers from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) has announced plans to conduct a comprehensive study on the health effects of the 2015 Aliso Canyon gas leak. The study, which will involve about 50 researchers, aims to examine the impact on pregnant women, children and adults affected by the largest gas leak in United States history.
Researchers will measure thousands of pollutants in the blood of people living near the underground natural gas storage facility to identify possible unexpected differences compared to those living outside the affected area. The study is funded by a $119.5 million settlement that state and local officials reached in 2018 with SoCalGas, the company that owns the Aliso Canyon plant.
The study will be conducted in three phases. In the initial phase, existing surveys and environmental data are analyzed, new environmental data is collected and birth results are evaluated. The next phase involves recruiting residents, conducting clinical assessments and conducting health and wellbeing surveys. In the final phase, the results are prepared for publication, communicated to the residents and a decision is made about whether to continue the study.
In addition, air monitoring is carried out in 40 houses within a 5-kilometer radius of the facility to measure pollutants. The Community Advisory Group (CAG) has been working to identify the chemicals residents were exposed to during the four months of the gas leak. Although SoCalGas is not legally required to share this information, the investigation team will ask for your cooperation.
Some residents expressed skepticism due to delays in starting the study and concerns about the reliability of air monitoring data collected by SoCalGas. However, UCLA professor Michael Jerrett assured residents of the team’s independence and commitment to scientific integrity. The next meeting to discuss the study will be September 14 at Los Angeles Pierce College.
This study is critical to understanding the health impacts of the Aliso Canyon gas leak and providing residents with answers and reassurance for their future well-being.
