The Impacts of Hydraulic Fracturing

I became interested in hydraulic fracturing, commonly known as “fracking”, after watching the documentary Gasland II. It chronicled the experiences of those who inhabit areas in proximity to active fracking wells in Pennsylvania. Detailing how their lives had been affected by the drilling. Focusing primarily on water contamination and illnesses that potentially could be linked to the chemicals used in the drilling process. By the end, I had questions about the actual process and what chemicals were used. I was also left wondering about the existence of environment laws and monitoring, if any, which would have ensured the use of only substances safe for humans as well as the environment. Why would this process have been allowed if it

Hydraulic fracking has been known to release ‘more than 650 chemicals”( source 3), because of this people who are living ‘near these wells fear their health may be harmed” ( source 3). Even though hydraulic fracking has not caused any known health problems there is still the threat that could come soon when more and more well build up. This could also harm the wildlife and could cause their habitat to be destroyed.

Hydraulic fracturing, also known as fracking, is a process the the oil and gas industry uses to extract natural gas and oil from shale rock formations buried deep within the Earth. Fracking is done in order to recover oil and natural gas from formations and areas that scientists didn’t think were possible to produce. It is also used for the extraction of oil and natural gas from older wells in more mature oil and natural gas fields. Many people don’t know about the many harmful effects to people and the environment because of fracking. Hydraulic fracturing is harmful to the environment and people because it contaminates drinking water, pollutes the air, and threatens the climate.

Hydraulic Fracturing (fracking) is the process of drilling into the ground and pumping sand, water, and fracking fluid at high pressures in order to extract natural shale gas that was previously unattainable. This process comes with environmental issues: the chemicals from the fracking fluid can contaminate nearby drinking water wells and harm the citizens of that area. Despite the fact that there have been several contaminated drinking water cases reported, there is little being done about this matter. This paper analyzes the available research that asserts why fracking is a dangerous process that should be banned immediately. The intended audience is my peers and instructor, as well as anyone interested in the debacle of fracking-caused water contamination that may come across this piece. As you are reading, I ask that you keep in mind that this is a very perplexing issue that has not been given much of an opportunity for true research and investigation. Therefore, the data discussed has not been officially proven or disproven to be directly related in every way to local fracking. However, the research gathered on the proposed danger of the Hydraulic Fracturing process is solely based on science that has already been proven as well as documented illnesses and symptoms from residents and contractors around or near fracking operation sites.

One of the most common arguments against fracking is that fracking should be banned being that it causes harmful effects on the human body. During the process of fracking, chemicals and methane gas are leaked out of the system and contaminate nearby groundwater. Unfortunately, many people are unaware of the fact that their water has been contaminated so they end up drinking it and causes them to become ill. Due to people drinking this contaminated groundwater, “There have been over 1,000 documented cases of water contamination next to areas of gas drilling as well as cases of sensory, respiratory, and neurological damage due to ingested contaminated water” (“What Goes”). Exposure of fracking chemicals to humans can also causes reproductive issues. Out of the hundreds of chemicals used in fracking, “20 to 30% cause reproductive, mutagenic, or cancerous

Fracking is proven to cause environmental contamination.Numerous reports have suggested that fracking techniques have caused water contamination. Methane gas, uranium, mercury ,and toxic chemicals such as lead leak out of the hydraulic fracturing system. And contaminates nearby groundwater. This water is used in the nearby cities and towns. Recent studies have shown, that 1,000 documented cases of water contamination were close to fracking sites. Although, the techniques that fracking uses are

Hydraulic fracturing, also known as fracking, has become a large part of the economy in northeastern Pennsylvania, and has impacted the area’s economy, environment, and mindset. Fracking is the process of extracting natural gas from the earth, and the industry it has brought to areas like northeastern Pennsylvania shows effects consistent with the ideas of neoliberalism and hegemony.

Following the release of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) draft report on their study of the effects of the fracking industry to ground water, the New York Times published the article titled “Fracking has not had a big effect on water supply, EPA says while noting risks.” The article conveys to the readers on the release of the study and gives opinions of the report’s findings from both sides of the fracking debate. In order to review the content of the article, the specifics presented in the article were compared to those cited in “Hydraulic fracturing: a toxicological threat for groundwater and drinking-water?” by Gordalla et al. This scientific paper had been released two years before the EPA’s report and had also assed the

Unfortunately, the extent of the environmental risks that are associated with hydraulic fracturing are largely unknown. According to a number of studies and publications GAO reviewed, fracking may pose risks to air quality. This ‘wishy washy’ finding was because the studies that were reviewed were not taking into account the long-term, cumulative effects of this extractive process (“Oil and Gas” 2012). The increase in air pollutants, the reports found, were more likely a result of engine exhaust, emissions from diesel-powered pumps, gas that was vented or flared for operational reasons, and unintentional emissions from faulty equipment or storage areas for waste (“Oil and Gas” 2012). Not surprisingly, a number of studies and publications GAO reviewed also indicated that fracking only might put our water quality at risk. Fracking can cause the contamination of surface water and groundwater as a result of erosion, spills and releases of chemicals, or the underground migration of chemicals (“Oil and Gas” 2012). So we have oversight agencies that release reports siting cases that are understudied, yet in the meantime permits are still being

Hydraulic fracturing can be very beneficial to the American economy. While beneficial, it has proven to be very harmful. As studies show, fracturing is using an absurd amount of water to complete these wells. Not only is the amount of water usage detrimental to our water supply, but oil companies are showing no signs of slowing down. On top of the high water usage, fracturing is physically crippling our environment with the injected fluids. With over 600 different types of chemicals added into the water mixture, how sure can we be that it isn’t contaminating our food and agriculture? The only 2 solutions to this energy crisis are to slow down, maybe even end it all together, or find an alternative. One alternative that has already made its way to our neighbor up north, Canada, is a process known as Gas Fracking. Gas Fracking proves to be much safer and quicker, while also not leaving as much of an environmental impact as water fracking.

A professor of molecular medicine at Cornell’s college of veterinary medicine by the name of Robert Oswald and Michelle Bamberger a veterinarian interviewed animal owners in six states Colorado, New York, Louisiana, Pennsylvania, Ohio, and Texas. The interviews turned up twenty four cases of animals possibly being harmed by fracking. It is impossible to tell if it was caused directly from fracking due to incomplete tests on how fracking is affecting these areas but signs strongly point to it being the cause. Oswald said, “We have a number of case studies -- they don't tell us about the prevalence of problems associated with hydraulic fracturing, but they do tell us how things can happen." (Cornell.edu). Some of the case studies show death of many animals such as in Louisiana seventeen cows died after about an hour after being exposed to fracking fluid. The cause of death was circulatory failures which lead to their death. Another case was of one hundred and forty cows were exposed to hydrofracking fluid and seventy died and those that lived many gave still births or had serious defects. As we see the water and chemicals that are pumped into the ground are not healthy and can lead to death or birth defects. Fracking is dangerous and definitely needs to be regulated but there are some upsides to it as

One of these factors is water consumption. Water is a precious resource for all of humanity, people need it to survive, and with water shortages all over the world its a resource people should not misuse. Batteries overtime dissipates the water that is in them due to heat and evaporation. So a consumer, after a period of time, will need to fill the batteries with water, just like maintenance of a standard non-electric vehicle. Furthermore experts have stated, “A new study by University of Texas researchers found that switching cars from gasoline to all-electric or plug-in hybrid would cause three times more water usage than what oil refineries would normally consume.” Which means, not only do you have to fill it up to cool the batteries, but

Farmers suffer significant decreases to their herds' offspring when water contamination is present. Pet owners are left to grieve over the deaths of their pets as they usually die shortly after being exposed to flowback, either by coming in contact with toxic puddles or by drinking it. Millions of gallons of this toxic water are left to evaporate, used in other wells, spread to reduce dust, or injected into the class II wells. Class II wells are the class that is associated with the founded earthquakes, as previously stated. These disposing procedures are clearly linked to environmental and health issues. Due to the HIPPA laws, health records are hard to obtain in order to track, document, and link health issues to the fracking industry. Some health issues may take years to develop, and the burden of proof is placed on the patient. Peter Rabinowitz of Yale University has an approach to studying the health issues associated with gas drilling by using an animal sentinel system. Peter places children at a higher risk of health issues and they are often the first in a family to show signs of illness. Infants whose parents live near gas operations are impacted at birth with low APGAR scores, low birth weights, and as other reports may show, still born. (Bamberger and Oswald

Hydraulic fracturing is when solutions are pumped into the ground to produce the energy source of natural gas. Using it has its benefits and downfalls. From an economic perspective, it can be highly beneficial because it would provide more access to oil and gas through the crevices in the ground that ends up getting left out in regular extractions. This would allow these resources to be cheaper and it can give us more time to deal with environmental conditions since its a cleaner source of fuel. Some companies take it upon themselves to advertise this portion and how it would create more jobs on a social level. This is done to ensure that more people in the population can become more acceptable to this method of extraction.

Another problem that we know exists with hydraulic fracturing is the contamination of the water, the ground, and the air around the sites (Goldman pg. 2). It has been shown that “…residents living near the hydraulic fracturing sites are increasingly worried that the drilling process might be contaminating their well water, polluting streams, and releasing toxic gases into the air (Hobson).” Water sources, as well as the soil, are often polluted from flowback fluid and from production brine (Hydro-Fracking pg.4). Flowback fluid is “the contaminated fluid that returns to the surface during the drilling process, and is estimated to be between 9% - 35% of the fluids injected during