Greta Jimenez
Fracking, or hydraulic fracturing, is a technique used to extract natural gas or oil from shale and other forms of tight rock. While it has the potential to provide more oil and gas resources to consumers, the process of extraction has long-lasting negative impacts on the surrounding environment, including soil contamination. Soil contaminated by fracking pollution can poison water, impair wildlife, and transfer heavy metals and other toxins into food grown on the land.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Soil contamination | Wastewater spills from fracked oil wells can cause soil contamination |
| Chemicals in wastewater can trigger the release of particles within the soil | |
| Particles bind pollutants to metals, which can cause more damage to wildlife and human health in the event of a spill | |
| Less than 5% of colloids were released when flushed with de-ionized water, while flowback fluid led to between 32% and 36% of colloids breaking loose | |
| Chemicals in flowback fluid can loosen the bond between sand and colloids, causing them to repel from soil particles | |
| Fracking can destroy the fertility of farmland | |
| Fracking can transfer heavy metals and other toxins into food grown in contaminated soil | |
| Livestock that eats contaminated food can get sick or spread toxins to customers | |
| Typical water treatment plants are not rigorous enough to remove toxic chemicals in fracking wastewater | |
| Storing wastewater underground may contribute to earthquakes | |
| Poor cementation of casings can lead to groundwater methane contamination |
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What You'll Learn
Wastewater spills
The high salinity of wastewater spills can reduce the soil's ability to support plant life, leading to long-term negative effects on vegetation and ecosystems. In addition to the immediate environmental impact, wastewater spills from fracking operations have been shown to cause widespread and persistent water and soil contamination. A 2016 Duke University study found clear evidence of direct water contamination in the Bakken region, which produces just 2% of the nation's natural gas but still flares a substantial amount, contributing to air pollution.
The toxic substances in fracking wastewater have been associated with a range of negative health effects, including cancer, endocrine disruption, and neurological and immune system problems. A 2015 study by Avner Vengosh and Gary Dwyer of Duke University found that high levels of ammonium and iodide, two potentially hazardous contaminants, were being discharged or spilled into streams and rivers from oil and gas operations in Pennsylvania and West Virginia. These chemicals were also present in fracking wastewater and were not regulated under the Clean Water Act, allowing their disposal into the environment.
The improper management of wastewater is often the source of pollution. This includes on-site spills and leakage, as well as the improper disposal or treatment of wastewater, such as the direct disposal of untreated wastewater. The federal Clean Water Act regulates the treatment and discharge of shale gas wastewater into surface water bodies, but exemptions have been granted by the EPA, allowing energy and mining companies to release toxic materials into aquifers.
The rapid pace of unconventional oil and gas development through fracking has outrun scientists' ability to monitor its impacts on surface water. Better and more frequent water measurement is needed to fully understand the extent of the pollution caused by fracking wastewater spills.
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Toxic chemicals
Fracking involves drilling deep into the earth and using small explosions and a mix of water, sand, and chemicals to break up shale rock formations that contain natural gas and oil. The process uses a large amount of water—between 1.5 million and 9.7 million gallons per well in the US—which becomes contaminated with toxic chemicals. This wastewater is often referred to as "flowback fluid" or "flowback water".
The wastewater produced by fracking can contaminate the soil in several ways. Firstly, spills can occur due to equipment failure or engineering misjudgments, leading to the release of contaminated water laced with chemicals onto the soil. Secondly, even when properly contained, the wastewater can interact with the soil and trigger the release of particles that bind pollutants to metals, making them more mobile and increasing the risk of contamination of water sources and harm to wildlife and human health.
The chemicals used in fracking include known carcinogens and endocrine disruptors such as benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, xylene, and naphthalene. These chemicals can contaminate groundwater, affecting both distant communities and local residents near drilling wells. They can also make the land less fertile, impacting farmers and the ability to grow healthy food.
The specific chemicals used in fracking fluids are often not disclosed to the public due to trade secret laws, which has complicated efforts to develop risk management policies and study health effects. However, research has shown that these chemicals can have serious negative impacts on human health, including effects on the central nervous system, bone marrow, blood production, immune system, and urogenital systems.
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Methane emissions
Fracking releases large amounts of methane, a dangerously potent greenhouse gas. According to the International Energy Agency, the US oil and gas industry emits 16.9 million metric tons of methane annually. Some of this methane is inadvertently leaked through faulty equipment, while some are deliberately vented into the atmosphere between extractions.
Methane has a much higher warming potential than carbon dioxide, trapping 25 times more heat. Over a 20-year period, its global warming potential is 86 times greater than carbon dioxide. Leaking methane contributes to climate change and air pollution, causing health problems for those living nearby. It causes nosebleeds, asthma, headaches, seizures, and premature births with low birth weight and life-threatening defects.
Fracked shale gas wells may have methane leakage rates as high as 7.9%, which would make natural gas worse for the climate than coal. However, the current leakage rate for petroleum and natural gas systems is estimated at about 1.2%, and the US EPA states that methane emissions from crude oil transportation account for less than 1% of total methane emissions from the oil industry.
The EPA also reports that methane emissions from venting and flaring in the US declined by 15% from 2013 to 2016, and emissions from transmission and storage of natural gas systems have declined by about 44% since 1990. According to the EPA, as long as leakage is below 3.2%, natural gas has a lower greenhouse gas profile than coal when used for electricity.
However, critics argue that this "climate benefit" does not exist because, in the short term, methane has a much higher warming potential than what most studies calculate. In addition, fixing leaks at super-polluting fields would be a huge boon for climate regulation. Leak detection and repair require frequent oversight, but it is cost-effective and often pays for itself.
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Groundwater contamination
The contamination of groundwater occurs when toxic fracking fluids leak from poorly constructed oil or gas wells. These leaks can result from equipment failure, engineering misjudgments, or the inability of the wells to withstand the high pressures involved in fracking, leading to induced seismicity. The contaminated water can then seep into and poison groundwater sources, making its way into streams and water supplies used for drinking and irrigation.
Studies have found that certain chemicals within wastewater can trigger the release of particles within the soil, known as colloids. These colloids have an electric charge, causing them to bind to soil particles. However, the chemicals in the wastewater can loosen this bond, causing the colloids to repel from the soil and leach out, carrying pollutants with them and contaminating the groundwater.
The impact of groundwater contamination can be widespread, affecting both nearby communities and those farther away. It poses risks to human health, with the potential for carcinogens and toxic compounds to reach harmful concentrations in drinking water sources. Additionally, contaminated groundwater can have ecological consequences, threatening the health of wildlife and ecosystems that rely on clean water sources.
The lack of transparency around the chemicals used in fracking compounds the issue of groundwater contamination. In some jurisdictions, such as the United States, companies are not required to disclose all the chemicals employed during extraction, citing trade secret laws. This lack of knowledge hinders the development of effective risk management policies and the study of health effects associated with contaminated groundwater.
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Soil fertility
Fracking, or hydraulic fracturing, is a technique used to extract natural gas or oil from shale and other forms of impermeable rock. The process involves injecting large volumes of water, mixed with toxic chemicals and sand, into horizontal wells under high pressure to crack rock and release oil and gas. This process is inherently dangerous and has been associated with environmental and social problems, including soil pollution and reduced soil fertility.
Firstly, fracking can lead to soil acidification and deoxygenation. Soil acidity increases in the vicinity of oil and gas pipelines where flaring occurs, reducing the amount of usable essential nutrients in the soil such as carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus. This increase in acidity affects the soil's pH level, making it more difficult for plants to absorb these essential nutrients. Additionally, the release of methane, the primary component of natural gas, from leaky gas pipelines changes the oxygen content of the soil, further disrupting plant cell growth and making it challenging for even the hardiest crops to thrive.
Secondly, fracking releases toxic heavy metals such as arsenic, barium, cadmium, chromium, lead, and mercury into the soil. These heavy metals are absorbed by plants, which then enter the food chain. Accumulation of these toxins in the tissues of humans and animals that consume these plants can cause serious health risks. For example, mercury is a highly potent neurotoxin, and consuming food grown in soil contaminated with heavy metals can have detrimental consequences.
Moreover, the heavy truck traffic associated with the construction and operation of gas wells contributes to soil compaction. Compacted soil becomes impermeable, making it challenging for water and air to penetrate and thereby hindering plant root growth. The weight of the trucks also compacts and erodes the soil on access roads, stripping it of vital nutrients. This soil compaction caused by fracking activities can render the land unusable for agricultural purposes and negatively impact soil fertility.
Additionally, the large volumes of water used in fracking, often extracted from nearby lakes, streams, and rivers, are loaded with toxic chemicals. The water used in fracking becomes contaminated and is typically not returned to the water cycle for other uses. This contaminated water can then leak into and pollute underground aquifers, further reducing soil fertility.
Fracking poses a significant threat to soil fertility, and its impact on soil ecosystems, including microorganisms and crops, is a growing concern. While some studies have observed the direct correlation between fracking fluids and plant death, the long-term effects on soil fertility and the potential for remediation techniques are still being investigated.
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Frequently asked questions
Fracking involves injecting large volumes of water into rock formations to extract shale gas and oil. This water, known as "flowback" or "produced water", can become contaminated with toxic chemicals and spill or surge back to the surface, leaking into and contaminating the soil.
Soil contaminated by fracking can poison water instead of filtering it. It can also transfer heavy metals and other toxins into food that grows on it, making livestock and customers sick.
Soil pollution from fracking can lead to health problems for those living nearby. For example, it can cause food to become contaminated with toxins, and it can also lead to water contamination, with toxins reaching human-relevant concentrations in groundwater.
Wastewater spills are quite common in fracking. A study suggests that between 10 and 40 percent of the water solution injected into rock formations surges back to the surface.
