Arauzo 4

Danielle Arauzo
Mr. Rogers
Government
02 November 2015

Hydraulic Fracturing
What the frack is Hydraulic Fracturing and why has it been such a controversial topic for
the past several years? Hydraulic Fracturing, better known as fracking, is a rapidly expanding
process that makes it easier to extract oil or gas from previously inaccessible
sites (Unchecked). Over the past ten years, hundreds of thousands of new wells have been
drilled across the United States that seemingly pose many concerning hazards. Fracking
involves the injection of more than a million gallons of water, sand and chemicals at high
pressure down and across into horizontally drilled wells as far as 100,000 feet below the
surface (Granberg). The rock layer is then cracked due to the pressurized mixture. These
openings, by the help of sand particles, are exposed in order for the natural gasses from the shale
to be able to circulate up the man-made well. Fracking has revolutionized the oil and gas
industries across the nation, among other things, but the numerous health risks, environmental
risks, and earth tremors (earthquakes) continue to raise awareness.
First and foremost, fracking poses detrimental health threats to humans and animals who
come in contact with fracking sites. The potential hazards of fracking have been under close
examination for a number of years as researchers try to come to the bottom of it. In the article
Human and Ecological Risk Assessment, 632 chemicals were collected that were said to have

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been associated with fracking and were further studied. The results found that that 75% of the
chemicals could affect the skin, eyes, and other sensory organs, while approximately 4050%
could affect the brain/nervous system, immune and cardiovascular systems, and the kidneys and
25% could cause cancer and mutations (Hoffman). Although many of these health risks from
the toxins are not immediately present, the long-term effects are just as serious. The closer to the
fracking incision, the more susceptible one is to these numerous health risks. In addition, it has
been found that stillbirths and other reproductive problems in cattle in certain areas have been
documented in the scientific literature, and reports of stillborn human infants have surfaced in
areas that fracking was present (Bamberger, Oswald 5). In spite of the fact that there has been
no further investigation, the possibility of such a thing is a horrendous thought. The real
question is, what price are we willing to pay knowing our health is at risk?
Imagine a world with fresh, clean air and water with no worries of environmental
pollution; this would be a world without fracking. Hydraulic fracturing is extremely harmful to
the natural world as it contaminates and pollutes the water we drink and the air we breathe. A
study by Duke University documented systematic evidence for methane contamination of
drinking water associated with shale-gas extraction (Osborn). This contaminated water is then
used as the main source of drinking water for local towns and cities. Unbeknownst to them,
hundreds of thousands of people are drinking water that contains methane in it. But it doesnt
stop here. The United States government scientists studied and sampled air from a tower close to
a fracking well in Denver, Colorado. To their surprise, they found natural gas in the air; the
study estimates that natural-gas producers in an area known as the Denver-Julesburg Basin are
losing about 4% of their gas to the atmosphere (Tollefson). This number is roughly more than

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double the official inventory and is considered dangerous and harmful to the environment. If
fracking continues, our atmosphere will be full of poisonous toxins that may offset climate
issues.
Last but not least, Hydraulic Fracturing has been linked to induced seismic
events (earthquakes) in areas where the injection of fracking wastewater underground is
present (Hoffman). These earthquakes occur when human activities activate dormant faults,
increasing pore pressure and causing faults to slip. It is possible and important to note that these
earthquakes may not strike once an injection occurs, but may trigger well after the injection
period is over. Although most of the earthquakes are small in magnitude (the strongest
measured 5.2) their relationship with the storage of millions of gallons of toxic wastewater does
little to ease the fears over fossil energy's long list of externalities (Hoffman). As the millions
of gallons of wastewater continue to grow, the category of the earthquakes will start to get larger;
it is just a matter of time. Earthquakes with magnitudes between 4.5 and 5.0 have been induced
by fluid injection in Arkansas, Colorado, Kansas, Oklahoma, and Texas (Induced Earthquakes).
These earthquakes have occurred near fracking wells across the United States destroying homes,
business, and farms, among other things. Hydraulic Fracturing is evidently causing more harm
than good.
Despite all the negative aspects of Hydraulic Fracturing, the United States has benefited
greatly as it is now energy independent and our economy is thriving as gas prices are low. This
fairly new advancement produces a copious amount of energy that is no longer on foreign soil,
ending the need to import oil or gas. Fracking is providing an abundance of domestic energy,
helping to drive a rebirth of manufacturing, and easing dependence on overseas energy

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peddlers (Gold 5). Although this may sound like a positive thing, this requires turning whole
counties into industrial zones, complete with fleets of trucks, air quality concerns, a disruption of
nature, and fear that water aquifers will be poisoned (Gold, 5). On the same note, fracking has
created jobs for Americans and has been instrumental in the economies record-low natural gas
prices. But with this, there is a price to pay. In Pennsylvanias last extractive boom, the state
was stuck with a $5 billion bill to clean up pollution from abandoned mines (Bambrick). In the
long run, despite the low price of gas, the economy was still affected by the heavy fine from air
pollution that is associated with fracking. All in all, Hydraulic Fracturing is not worth the
headache due to all of its complications and nuisances.
Hydraulic Fracturing is repeatedly linked to numerous health risks, environmental risks,
and earth tremors (earthquakes) that must be addressed. If these issues are not taken care of
sooner than later, peoples health and the air and water we breathe and drink will be overtaken by
harmful toxins and pollution. In order to prevent this, the use of Hydraulic Fracturing shall be
regulated.