A new study from Harvard University that dubiously claims to link unconventional oil and natural gas development with the premature death of Medicare beneficiaries is deeply misleading and flawed in its assumptions, data and approach.

In a press release touting the study, the researchers write:

“The results suggest that airborne contaminants emitted by [unconventional oil and gas development] and transported downwind are contributing to increased mortality.”

Fact check: It doesn’t.

In reality, this study simply compares the location of wells completed between 2001 and 2015 to the population of elderly residents in a certain zip code. Correlation doesn’t equal causation and it couldn’t be truer in this case, where no air samples were taken, measurements conducted, or exposure pathways established.

EID offers some important things to keep in mind when reading this study on EIDHealth.org.