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. 2018 Mar 23;13(3):e0194203.
doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0194203. eCollection 2018.

Shale gas activity and increased rates of sexually transmitted infections in Ohio, 2000-2016

Nicole C Deziel  1 , Zoe Humeau  1   2 , Elise G Elliott  1 , Joshua L Warren  3 , Linda M Niccolai  4
Affiliations

Shale gas activity and increased rates of sexually transmitted infections in Ohio, 2000-2016

Nicole C Deziel et al. PLoS One. .

Abstract

Background: The growing shale gas ("fracking") industry depends on a mobile workforce, whose influx could have social impacts on host communities. Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) can increase through sexual mixing patterns associated with labor migration. No prior studies have quantified the relationship between shale gas activity and rates of three reportable STIs: chlamydia, gonorrhea, and syphilis.

Methods: We conducted a longitudinal, ecologic study from 2000-2016 in Ohio, situated in a prolific shale gas region in the United States (US). Data on reported cases of chlamydia, gonorrhea, and syphilis by county and year were obtained from the Ohio Department of Health. All 88 counties were classified as none, low, and high shale gas activity in each year, using data from the Ohio Department of Natural Resources. Annual rate ratios (RR) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs) were calculated from mixed-effects Poisson regression models evaluating the relationship between shale gas activity and reported annual STI rates while adjusting for secular trends and potential confounders obtained from the US Census.

Results: Compared to counties with no shale gas activity, counties with high activity had 21% (RR = 1.21; 95%CI = 1.08-1.36) increased rates of chlamydia and 19% (RR = 1.27; 95%CI 0.98-1.44) increased rates of gonorrhea, respectively. No association was observed for syphilis.

Conclusion: This first report of a link between shale gas activity and increased rates of both chlamydia and gonorrhea may inform local policies and community health efforts.

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Conflict of interest statement

Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.

Figures

Fig 1
Fig 1. Temporal trends in total reported chlamydia rates and new well permits in Ohio 2000–2016.
Fig 2
Fig 2. Temporal trends in total reported gonorrhea rates and new well permits in Ohio 2000–2016.
Fig 3
Fig 3. Temporal trends in total reported syphilis rates and new well permits in Ohio 2000–2016.
Fig 4
Fig 4. Maximum shale gas activity status reached by Ohio counties.
Fig 5
Fig 5. Mean residuals across counties and time by activity categories for chlamydia models excluding activity variable.
Fig 6
Fig 6. Mean residuals across counties and time by activity categories for gonorrhea models excluding activity variable.
Fig 7
Fig 7. Mean residuals across counties and time by activity categories for syphilis models excluding activity variable.
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