Fracking's Impact: Pollutants And Their Effects

Fracking, or hydraulic fracturing, is a highly controversial process that involves injecting water, sand, and chemicals into bedrock at high pressure to extract natural gas and oil. While it has led to record levels of production in the US, it has also been blamed for adverse effects on the environment and human health. One of the main concerns is water pollution, as fracking uses large amounts of water, which can become contaminated with toxic chemicals, affecting local groundwater and threatening to pollute water sources. In addition, fracking has been associated with increased seismic activity and air pollution, including the release of methane, a potent greenhouse gas, and other toxic compounds. The impact of fracking on the environment and human health has led to calls for stricter safety regulations and more holistic approaches to evaluating and mitigating its effects.

Water contamination

Fracking fluid is a mix of water, chemicals, and solid particles used to penetrate and fracture underground rock. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has identified over a thousand different chemicals used in fracking fluid, and many are considered harmful to human health. Other ingredients are considered trade secrets and are not revealed to the public. These chemicals include toxic compounds such as nitrogen oxides, benzene, hydrogen sulfide, and other hydrocarbons, which can form smog and ozone and cause respiratory issues for those living nearby.

The byproduct of fracking's water consumption is billions of gallons of wastewater that may be contaminated by petrochemicals. The majority of this wastewater is injected into underground wells, and the rest is transported for treatment. The EPA highlights the potential leakage from wastewater storage pits or accidental releases during transport as risks to drinking water supplies.

In addition to the immediate risks of water contamination, fracking has also been linked to negative health outcomes in infants. A study by the University of Rochester found that drilling near an infant's public water source was associated with poorer birth outcomes and more fracking-related contaminants in public drinking water. The study specifically found that every new well drilled within one kilometer of a public drinking water source was associated with an 11-13% increase in the incidence of preterm births and low birth weight in infants exposed during gestation.

Air pollution

Fracking, or hydraulic fracturing, is a process that involves blasting huge volumes of water mixed with toxic chemicals and sand deep into the earth to fracture rock formations and release oil and natural gas. This process has been linked to increased air pollution and negative health impacts on nearby communities.

One of the main ways fracking contributes to air pollution is by releasing pollutants such as particulate matter and volatile organic compounds (VOCs). These include benzene, toluene, and ethylbenzene, which have been linked to respiratory and cardiovascular health problems. The increase in these pollutants can lead to ground-level ozone, raising the risk of asthma and other respiratory illnesses. Lung and bronchus cancer have become the leading cause of cancer deaths in Ohio, where fracking is prevalent.

The "fracking boom" in the US has led to a spike in research to determine the extent of emissions from fracked oil and gas wells. While methane emissions have received much attention, air toxics, such as benzene, have been less of a focus. Benzene is a known carcinogen and has been monitored at levels above 1 part per billion in urban areas. With the fracking boom, levels of benzene and other VOCs have increased, particularly in rural shale areas near well pads.

In addition to the direct release of pollutants, fracking operations also contribute to increased truck traffic, leading to more emissions from diesel engines. This further exacerbates the air quality issues in areas with oil and gas drilling.

The impact of fracking on air pollution is not limited to the immediate vicinity of fracking sites. The release of large amounts of methane, a potent greenhouse gas, contributes to climate change, which in turn affects air quality globally.

Community-led initiatives, such as the one in Belmont County, Ohio, have played a crucial role in bringing attention to the issue of air pollution caused by fracking. By setting up their own network of air-quality sensors, residents were able to gather data that confirmed their concerns about high levels of air pollution and its correlation with their health issues. This data also empowered them to take targeted action and advocate for improved air quality in their region.

Induced seismicity

Fracking has been associated with an increase in seismic activity. For example, in the UK, fracking operations were stopped after a magnitude 2.3 earthquake in Blackpool. In Poland, operations were halted in 2017 due to adverse oil market conditions. In the US, the largest earthquake attributed to wastewater disposal (a byproduct of fracking) was a magnitude 5.8 earthquake in central Oklahoma in 2016.

However, it is important to note that most induced earthquakes are not directly caused by fracking. The recent increase in earthquakes in the central US is primarily caused by the disposal of waste fluids, a byproduct of oil production. Wastewater disposal wells operate for longer durations and inject much more fluid than the hydraulic fracturing process, making them more likely to induce earthquakes.

Habitat disruption

Fracking has led to habitat disruption, causing loss of wildlife habitat, species decline, and disruptions to migratory patterns. The process of fracking requires the construction of well pads, roads, pipelines, and other infrastructure, which fragments habitats and forces animals to find new places to live. This has particularly impacted bird species that depend on large tracts of undisturbed habitat, such as the cerulean warbler, which has seen a 15% higher population decline near fracking sites.

The development of natural gas infrastructure results in up to 23 acres of land cover disturbance per well pad. This destruction of habitats has also impacted aquatic ecosystems, with increased sedimentation and reduced shade leading to the degradation of ecologically important headwater streams.

Additionally, the loud machines and bright lights of industrial fracking areas can change animals' behaviour and interfere with their ability to utilise their remaining habitat. For example, research on mule deer in Colorado found a 25 to 50% decline in the number of deer living near gas and drilling operations.

The habitat disruption caused by fracking can also create breeding grounds for invasive species. For example, infestations of Russian tumbleweed, which tends to grow where soil is disturbed, have been exacerbated by oilfield activity.

The fragmentation and loss of habitats due to fracking may scar the landscape long after extraction activities have ended, and scientists estimate that it could have lasting consequences for generations to come.

Waste disposal

One of the primary waste streams generated during fracking is flowback water. This is the mixture of water, chemicals, and sand that flows back to the surface after a well has been hydraulically fractured. Flowback water can contain high levels of salts, metals, and radioactive materials, as well as the chemicals that were originally injected into the well. Improper disposal of flowback water can contaminate surface and groundwater sources, posing risks to human health and the environment.

To minimize these risks, strict regulations and proper waste management practices must be in place. One common method of disposing of flowback water is to inject it into deep underground wells that are specifically designed for this purpose. These injection wells are carefully constructed and monitored to ensure that the waste remains isolated from freshwater sources. Another method is to treat the flowback water using advanced treatment technologies, such as reverse osmosis or evaporation ponds, to remove the contaminants and make it safe for disposal or reuse.

Solid waste is also generated during the fracking process, including the drilling cuttings, proppant (sand), and waste generated from the construction and decommissioning of wells. These solid wastes can be contaminated with chemicals and other hazardous substances, so proper disposal is crucial. Landfill disposal is commonly used for solid waste, with specialized landfills designed to handle and contain hazardous waste. Another option is to recycle or reuse certain solid wastes, such as drilling cuttings, which can be treated and used in construction or road-building projects.

In addition to flowback water and solid waste, the fracking process can also generate air pollutants and greenhouse gas emissions. Volatile organic compounds (VOCs), nitrogen oxides (NOx), and particulate matter can be released into the air during various stages of the fracking process, contributing to air pollution and respiratory health issues. To mitigate these impacts, best practices such as capturing and controlling emissions, flaring, and implementing strict air quality standards should be enforced.

Moreover, the disposal of waste related to fracking operations extends beyond the drilling and completion phases. The decommissioning and abandonment of wells also require proper waste management strategies. Well decommissioning involves plugging and abandoning the well to prevent the escape of fluids and gases, and this process can generate significant amounts of solid and hazardous waste. Proper planning, regulations, and oversight are necessary to ensure that waste generated during well decommissioning is handled and disposed of safely and responsibly.

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