Hydraulic fracturing is the method of harvesting natural gas in shale deposits in the crust of the earth (4). Water, a mixture of chemicals that serve a variety of purposes, and sand are pumped deep underground in order to fracture shale beds and release the natural gas within. This is a revolutionary technique of retrieving natural resources that is relatively cheap and opens up new resources for fuel for the United States. At a glance, hydraulic fracturing may be seen as a great system that will help the economy and fuel industry (2). Upon further investigation, it can be seen that there are far more consequences for fracking than what meets the eye.
The unpredictable effects of fracking can lead to contamination of groundwater. Groundwater that has been contaminated by hydraulic fracturing operations has effects on human and environmental health that are not completely understood. Health concerns that have been reported include nosebleeds, cancer, asthma, headaches, weak immunity, and even death (3). When the two million gallons of solution used for hydraulic fracturing is blasted into the ground, it is not always easy to keep track of its entirety. Produced waters often infiltrate private wells and aquifers and are then consumed by humans (1). This is very alarming due to the fact that the chemicals that are used in hydraulic fracking can cause damage to the skin, brain, blood, lungs, liver, and kidneys to animals and humans. These chemicals have also been known to cause death and are linked to cancers (5).
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Environmental effects vary across water contamination, soil erosion, and unpredictable seismic activity (6). Due to the necessity of cleared land for fracking operations, there are decreased amounts of vegetation. Increased traffic and the lack of vegetation in combination with each other result in large amounts of sediments that are transported to nearby bodies of water which increases turbidity. This causes problems for plants and animals living in these bodies of water since the increased turbidity obstructs sunlight (1).
Larger environmental consequences can also span to the scale of increased global air pollution emissions due to the new source of fossil fuels. The nonrenewable resources that are produced from hydraulic fracturing are not clean-burning. The large amounts of fossil fuels that are made readily available by hydraulic fracking translates to the large amounts of emissions that will be deposited into the atmosphere as a result of its use. This increase in emissions leads to rapid climate change and poor air quality (2).
This is very much a global issue since hydraulic fracturing is happening on a global scale (4). The United States is known to have stricter environmental regulations than most other countries, but when it comes to fracking regulations, the U.S. seems to be very laid back. In countries where there is little to no environmental regulation, there is also little to no regulation on hydraulic fracturing. This means that the damages that are resulting from fracking in the United States is minute compared to what is happening on a global scale.
In conclusion, in can be determined that hydraulic fracturing poses high risk to human and environmental health on a national and global level. Considering what little evidence that has been brought forward, it is apparent that fracking operations need to be closely monitored in order to determine the magnitude of damage that is being done. From there, other measures can be put forward such as regulations and change in protocol in order to assure the safety of human and environmental health. At some point, the question must be asked - is it worth it? With all things considered, the United States does not need cheap fuel at the expense of human and environmental health. Fracking is not worth what it sabotages.
Sources:
1. Anderson, Curt. “House, Senate Bills Ban 2 of 3 Forms of Oil, Gas Fracking in Florida.” Sun, 7
Apr. 2019, www.sun-sentinel.com/news/politics/fl-ne-ap-fracking-bans-house-20190326-story.html.
2. Brugger, Kelsey. “CAMPAIGN 2020: Is Fracking out of Gas as a Hot‑Button Democratic Issue?” CAMPAIGN 2020: Is Fracking out of Gas as a Hot‑Button Democratic Issue? -- Friday, April 5, 2019, 5 Apr. 2019, www.eenews.net/stories/1060143951.
3. Cart, Julie. “Activists Want California to Ban Fracking. What Does Gov. Newsom Want?” CALmatters, 11 Apr. 2019, calmatters.org/articles/activists-want-california-fracking-ban-newsom/.
4. Jones, Sarah. “What Fracking Has Wrought.” The Nation, 15 Apr. 2019, www.thenation.com/article/amity-prosperity-eliza-griswold-book-review/.
5. Nikiforuk, Andrew. “'Insufficient,' 'Unknown,' 'Concerns': BC's Fracking Report Full of Apprehension.” Resilience, 2 Apr. 2019, www.resilience.org/stories/2019-04-02/insufficient-unknown-concerns-bcs-fracking-report-full-of-apprehension/.
6. Nowlin, Sanford. “Environmentalists Say Bill Being Considered by Texas Senate Would Let Companies Dump Fracking Waste Into Waterways.” San Antonio Current, San Antonio Current, 22 Apr. 2019, www.sacurrent.com/the-daily/archives/2019/04/18/environmentalists-say-bill-being-considered-by-texas-senate-would-let-companies-dump-fracking-waste-into-waterways.
Apr. 2019, www.sun-sentinel.com/news/politics/fl-ne-ap-fracking-bans-house-20190326-story.html.
2. Brugger, Kelsey. “CAMPAIGN 2020: Is Fracking out of Gas as a Hot‑Button Democratic Issue?” CAMPAIGN 2020: Is Fracking out of Gas as a Hot‑Button Democratic Issue? -- Friday, April 5, 2019, 5 Apr. 2019, www.eenews.net/stories/1060143951.
3. Cart, Julie. “Activists Want California to Ban Fracking. What Does Gov. Newsom Want?” CALmatters, 11 Apr. 2019, calmatters.org/articles/activists-want-california-fracking-ban-newsom/.
4. Jones, Sarah. “What Fracking Has Wrought.” The Nation, 15 Apr. 2019, www.thenation.com/article/amity-prosperity-eliza-griswold-book-review/.
5. Nikiforuk, Andrew. “'Insufficient,' 'Unknown,' 'Concerns': BC's Fracking Report Full of Apprehension.” Resilience, 2 Apr. 2019, www.resilience.org/stories/2019-04-02/insufficient-unknown-concerns-bcs-fracking-report-full-of-apprehension/.
6. Nowlin, Sanford. “Environmentalists Say Bill Being Considered by Texas Senate Would Let Companies Dump Fracking Waste Into Waterways.” San Antonio Current, San Antonio Current, 22 Apr. 2019, www.sacurrent.com/the-daily/archives/2019/04/18/environmentalists-say-bill-being-considered-by-texas-senate-would-let-companies-dump-fracking-waste-into-waterways.
What exactly can be done to mitigate these effects? Since these seem to be prevalent, what are people currently doing about this issue, especially in regards to obtaining safe drinking water? Would you say that this is worse than coal mining? While I am a proponent of green energy and do not typically support fracking, natural gas burning is typically cleaner than coal, though I am unaware if the overall harm fracking can cause to the surrounding environment is worse than that of coal mining and how these methods compare in terms of preserving the environment's health.
ReplyDeleteFracking is difficult to control entirely. Core samples can be taken in order to see what bedding may look like beneath the surface, but there is seldom a completely accurate prediction of what is going on in the subsurface. It is very difficult to be sure what the subsurface looks like. It is this uncertainty that causes fracking to be dangerous. Since produced waters from fracking are not always completely accounted for, these harmful, chemical laced waters can infiltrate private wells and aquifers. Unless we develop a more accurate way to determine bedding and can be completely sure of what is going on in the subsurface,these effects can not be mitigated.
DeleteOn a governmental level, nothing is being done about these issues. There are very loose regultions for fracking in the US and these issues are often blatently ignored by the corporations that are responsible and the governments in the area. Citizens are often forced to deal with their contaminated water in their own way whcih can mean they buy purified water or they simply suffer by drinking their contaminated water.
Fracking is not only used to collect gas, but it is also a method of collecting oil. Natural gas is somewhat cleaner than coal, but the other issues that arise from this method of obtaining it ia causing more harm overall to human and environmental health than it is helping. This simple fact is shoved aside by those who are massively benefiting from fracking - large corporations and governemnts in the area.