A large body of literature demonstrates that exposure to major adverse events such as natural disasters affects physical and mental health, less is known about health consequences of long-term exposure to smaller, recurring shocks such as mining-induced earthquakes.

Leveraging data from the Dutch Lifelines Cohort Study and Biobank and the Royal Netherlands Meteorological Institute, the report ‘The impact of mining-induced earthquakes on mental health: Evidence from the Dutch Lifelines Cohort Study and Biobank‘ examines mental health effects of frequent earthquakes generated by the extraction of natural gas, which was a major source of economic revenue for the Netherlands. Long-term exposure is captured by the accumulated peak ground acceleration. The scientists employ individual-level fixed effects models to deal with selective exposure and find that exposure increases depression and anxiety symptoms. The results are robust to selective migration and to varying the exposure indicator and support a reassessment of the societal costs of the mining of natural gas.

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Meer angst- en depressieklachten in Groningen door aardbevingen

Groningers zijn volgens studie vaker angstig en somber door aardbevingen