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  • đŸŒ± Pollution vs. Education: The Silent Crisis in America’s Gas-Producing Regions âš ïžđŸ“š

đŸŒ± Pollution vs. Education: The Silent Crisis in America’s Gas-Producing Regions âš ïžđŸ“š

Air pollution from oil and gas wells is harming student health and learning in the U.S.—a silent crisis unfolding near schools in gas-producing regions.

Author

Green Glow
June 28, 2025

In the quiet desert town of Counselor, New Mexico, schoolchildren are missing class not because of laziness or truancy—but because the air around their school makes them sick. At Lybrook Elementary, nestled in the San Juan Basin—a region rich in natural gas—students like 11-year-old Amari Werito suffer from persistent headaches, nausea, and vomiting. The culprit? Invisible toxins drifting from nearby oil and gas wells, sometimes less than a mile from the classroom.

Across America’s gas-producing regions, this is not an isolated case. While oil and gas fuel the economy and power homes, they are also contributing to a silent but devastating crisis—one where environmental pollution erodes children’s health, educational outcomes, and long-term futures.

Table of Contents

Invisible Emissions, Visible Consequences

From flaring stacks to leaking pipelines, oil and gas infrastructure releases pollutants like benzene (a known carcinogen), PM2.5 (fine particulate matter), ozone, and hydrogen sulfide. These airborne toxins are especially dangerous to children, whose developing bodies are more vulnerable to long-term harm.

In Lybrook, a 2024 air-monitoring study conducted by researchers from Princeton and Northern Arizona University found spikes in harmful pollutants during school hours—sometimes reaching double the threshold known to cause health effects. Another study, conducted in 2021, found that over 90% of residents in the area experienced chronic sinus issues, nausea, nosebleeds, and other symptoms linked to nearby gas extraction.

The strongest evidence may be the simplest: kids are getting sick, missing school, and falling behind.

Academic Achievement Suffers

It’s not just about physical health. Mounting research shows a strong link between air quality and educational performance. In one landmark study, economist Mike Gilraine of Simon Fraser University found that even modest increases in PM2.5 concentrations correlate with sharp declines in student test scores.

“It's hard to find a similar factor that would have such an impact on schools nationwide,” Gilraine stated. The implication is profound: children exposed to fossil fuel emissions aren’t just missing school—they’re learning less when they’re there.

Lybrook Elementary, for example, reports that fewer than 6% of its students are proficient in math. Reading and science scores are also well below state averages. While poverty and underfunding play a role, air pollution acts as an invisible weight, dragging down achievement in ways that standardized tests don’t capture.

Environmental Injustice in Plain Sight

The crisis disproportionately affects communities of color and low-income families. In New Mexico, around 45% of students in schools near oil and gas wells are Hispanic, and 24% are Native American. These are the same populations with the least political clout and the fewest resources to relocate or demand systemic change.

This is environmental racism—when pollution and its effects are unevenly distributed across racial and socioeconomic lines. Children in affluent suburbs don’t typically go to school next to gas flares. But in rural areas like Loving or Counselor, those who benefit the least from fossil fuel revenue are paying the highest price.

The Economic Trade-Off: Short-Term Gains, Long-Term Losses

The oil and gas industry is quick to point out its economic contributions. In New Mexico alone, the sector funneled $1.7 billion into public education in the last fiscal year. Districts like Loving have used oil money to build science labs, install sports turf, and fund teacher development.

But what does it mean if these same funds are enabling a toxic learning environment? As Loving Superintendent Lee White put it, “Are we willing to give that up because people say our air is not clean?” It's a question that speaks to a broader tension between economic survival and public health.

Yet, relying on an industry that may harm the very students it’s funding is a paradox that policymakers can no longer afford to ignore.

Policy Inaction and Legislative Failure

Some strides have been made. In 2023, New Mexico’s Land Commissioner issued an executive order banning new oil and gas leases on state-owned land within a mile of schools. Industry backlash was swift. Even so, the ban only affects a small fraction—about 1%—of the state’s wells.

A broader bill to restrict drilling near schools died in committee. Meanwhile, a pending lawsuit filed by environmental advocates accuses the state of failing to enforce pollution controls that protect students and residents.

With federal regulations limited and state action sporadic, many communities are left without meaningful protection.

A Call for Clean Air, Safe Schools, and Environmental Equity

The trade-offs we make in the name of energy independence must be examined more critically. Clean air and quality education are not luxuries—they are rights. No child should have to choose between going to school and staying healthy.

Communities like Counselor, Loving, and others across the American Southwest are sounding the alarm. Their stories, backed by science, demand more than empathy—they call for policy reform, stronger environmental monitoring, and equitable protections.

As Amari Werito and thousands of children like him walk into classrooms surrounded by gas wells, we must ask ourselves: What kind of future are we building if the path to progress poisons those who will inherit it?

Conclusion

The pollution-education crisis may be silent, but it is not invisible. From test scores to hospital visits, its impact is measurable—and avoidable. Real solutions exist, from stricter emissions regulations to safe zoning laws around schools.

It’s time for lawmakers, educators, and communities to choose children’s health over corporate profit. Because no economy, however booming, is worth more than the wellbeing of its next generation.

FAQs

How does air pollution from gas operations affect students?

Air pollution from oil and gas wells can release harmful pollutants like benzene, PM2.5, and hydrogen sulfide, which can cause nausea, headaches, and respiratory issues. These symptoms often lead to school absences and reduced academic performance.

Research by economist Mike Gilraine shows that even slight increases in PM2.5 are directly associated with lower student test scores. This connection holds even after controlling for poverty and other socioeconomic factors.

Which communities are most affected?

Low-income and Indigenous communities, particularly in states like New Mexico, are disproportionately affected. Many schools located near oil and gas infrastructure serve Native American and Hispanic populations.

Are there regulations to prevent drilling near schools?

Some measures exist, such as New Mexico’s 2023 executive order banning new leases within a mile of schools on state land. However, these regulations are limited in scope, and broader protective legislation has failed to pass.

What economic benefits do oil and gas bring to schools?

Oil and gas revenues fund public education, contributing billions to state budgets. Some schools use these funds for infrastructure and programs. However, this economic benefit often comes at the cost of student health.

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