Fracking's Pollution: Understanding The Environmental Impact Of Hydraulic Fracturing

Hydraulic fracturing, or fracking, is a process that involves injecting water, chemicals, and sand into wells under high pressure to crack rock and release oil and gas. This process has been associated with a range of environmental and health concerns, including water and air pollution, increased seismic activity, and the release of toxic chemicals and greenhouse gases. With each well consuming a median of 1.5 million gallons of water, fracking poses a significant risk of contaminating local water sources and affecting the surrounding wildlife and communities. The question of how much pollution fracking causes is a critical one as the technique spreads across the United States, with communities and organizations fighting back against its destructive environmental impact.

Water contamination

One of the primary ways fracking can contaminate water is through the leakage of wastewater. The wastewater generated during fracking can contain high levels of toxic chemicals, such as heavy metals (e.g., barium and lead), hydrocarbons, volatile organic compounds (VOCs), and naturally occurring radioactive materials. This wastewater is typically stored in unlined disposal pits or injected into underground wells, and it can leak or spill, contaminating nearby water sources. In 2014, a pipeline rupture in North Dakota spilled a million gallons of wastewater, contaminating Bear Den Bay in Lake Sakakawea, highlighting the risks associated with wastewater transportation and disposal.

The injection of fracking fluids into the ground can also lead to water contamination. The chemicals used in fracking, such as benzene, ethylene glycol, methanol, and xylene, can migrate into groundwater and aquifers, impacting drinking water sources. A Stanford study in Pavillion, Wyoming, found that fracking operations had impacted the community's drinking water, with unsafe practices including the dumping of drilling fluids containing diesel fuel and high chemical concentrations in unlined pits.

Additionally, fracking has been associated with the contamination of public water supplies and negative impacts on infant health. Research by Elaine Hill, Ph.D., and Lala Ma, Ph.D., linked shale gas development in Pennsylvania to compromised drinking water quality and poorer birth outcomes, including an increase in preterm births and low birth weight in infants. Their study underscores the need for closer environmental regulation of the fracking industry to protect public health.

Furthermore, the large volumes of water used in fracking, up to 5 million gallons per well, can deplete local water supplies, particularly in drought-prone regions. The water used in fracking is often contaminated by salts, chemicals, and radiation, and it is often permanently removed from the ecosystem, impacting aquatic life and reducing water availability for other purposes.

While the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has acknowledged the impact of fracking on drinking water resources, legal loopholes exempt fracking from certain elements of the Safe Drinking Water Act and hazardous waste laws, endangering surrounding communities. The complexity of groundwater investigations related to fracking and the proprietary nature of chemical mixtures used by gas companies further challenge the detection and regulation of water contamination.

Air pollution

One of the primary air pollutants associated with fracking is methane, a potent greenhouse gas. Methane leaks from natural gas fields during the fracking process, contributing to global warming and climate change. Studies have found that a significant percentage of methane, ranging from 3.6 to 7.9%, is leaked into the atmosphere during the service life of a high-volume hydraulic fracturing (HVHF) well. Methane has a higher heat-trapping potential than carbon dioxide, making its leakage a critical concern.

In addition to methane, fracking releases other harmful chemicals into the air, such as benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, xylenes, and hydrogen sulfide (H2S). Chronic exposure to these toxic chemicals has been linked to an increased risk of cancer, particularly within close proximity to fracking wells. Benzene, a known carcinogen, has been a particular concern in urban areas and shale regions, where its presence has resurged due to increased hydrocarbon emissions from the fracking industry.

Furthermore, fracking operations contribute to air pollution through flaring, the burning of gases released during drilling. Flaring emits sulfur dioxide (SO2), which reacts with other chemicals to form particulate pollution. Sulfur dioxide can have detrimental effects on human health, causing respiratory illnesses, heart conditions, and even premature death. Flaring also produces intense light and noise, leading to sleep deprivation for nearby communities.

The heavy construction and vehicle traffic associated with fracking further exacerbate air pollution. Diesel exhaust from trucks and heavy machinery contains carbon monoxide, nitrous oxide, and sulfur dioxide. The stirring up of dust during construction and transportation activities increases smog formation and ground-level ozone concentrations, impacting air quality not only in drilling areas but also in communities along gas pipelines.

While regulations and technological advancements have helped reduce emissions in the industry, the diffuse nature of fracking operations across numerous well pads makes it challenging to implement consistent monitoring and emissions reduction measures. As a result, the growth of the fracking industry and potential deregulation of methane emissions may contribute to persistently high hydrocarbon emissions and associated air quality issues.

Greenhouse gas emissions

Fracking, or hydraulic fracturing, is an inexpensive way to extract oil or natural gas from rock formations by injecting high-pressure water, sand, and chemicals into the earth. This process releases large amounts of methane, a potent greenhouse gas with a significantly higher heat-trapping capacity than carbon dioxide. Methane emissions from fracking operations are a major contributor to global warming and climate change.

Methane is the primary component of natural gas, and its leakage rates from fracked shale gas wells can be as high as 7.9%. This leakage makes the climate impact of fracked gas significantly worse than that of coal. In addition to methane, fracking releases other toxic compounds such as nitrogen oxides, benzene, hydrogen sulfide, and hydrocarbons, which contribute to air pollution and pose risks to human health.

The process of fracking also consumes vast amounts of water, leading to water scarcity and contamination of local water sources. The contaminated wastewater generated by fracking can pollute essential drinking water supplies, as confirmed by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in 2016. This pollution has severe consequences, forcing communities to rely on alternative water sources when their local water becomes too contaminated to use.

Furthermore, fracking is linked to increased seismic activity, resulting in tremors and earthquakes across North America. The injection of wastewater underground for disposal has been identified as a significant contributor to these fracking-induced earthquakes, particularly in Oklahoma, where there has been a notable increase in the frequency and intensity of such events.

The expansion of fracking has also indirectly contributed to a boom in the plastics industry, as the excess gas produced seeks new markets. This has led to an increase in petrochemical and plastics manufacturing, resulting in more plastic pollution in rivers, landscapes, oceans, and marine life. The microplastic molecules from this pollution are pervasive, finding their way into various products, including sea salt, bottled water, and organic compost.

Impact on wildlife

While the impact of fracking on wildlife is not yet fully understood, there is mounting evidence that it poses a significant threat to ecosystems and wildlife. Fracking involves drilling deep into the earth and using a mix of water, sand, and chemicals under high pressure to break up shale rock formations and release oil and gas. This process requires large volumes of water—between 1.5 and 16 million gallons per well—which can have a detrimental effect on water sources and the wildlife that depends on them.

Water contamination is a significant concern, as toxic fracking fluids can leak or spill during transportation and pumping, polluting rivers, lakes, and streams. In 2014, a fracking equipment failure in Ohio resulted in a fire and the explosion of trucks, causing thousands of gallons of toxic chemicals to leak into a river tributary, killing more than 70,000 fish. Another incident in 2006 saw a spill of nearly 1 million gallons of fracking wastewater into the Yellowstone River, leading to a mass die-off of fish and plants. These examples highlight the destructive consequences of water pollution caused by fracking.

In addition to water pollution, air pollution produced by fracking can also have detrimental effects on wildlife. Studies have found that extended exposure to air pollutants from natural gas fracking can cause respiratory ailments, neurological problems, and even cancer in animals. The loud noises and bright lights associated with fracking operations can also alter the behaviour of wildlife, driving them away from critical habitats and affecting their ability to survive. For example, the noise from air compressors has been found to lower species diversity within bird communities, and light pollution can be deadly for migratory birds and disrupt nocturnal animals.

The construction of infrastructure, such as pipelines and roads, can also fragment and decimate habitats, further threatening wildlife populations. The intense industrial development accompanying fracking pushes imperiled animals out of the wild areas they need to survive. This habitat destruction and fragmentation can have cascading effects on ecosystems, impacting a wide range of species, including birds, fish, mussels, caribou, and even fleas.

While the full extent of fracking's impact on wildlife remains to be seen, it is clear that this inherently dangerous technique poses significant risks to ecosystems and wildlife. Preventative measures and careful planning are necessary to minimize the harm to wildlife and their habitats.

Earthquakes

Wastewater disposal wells typically operate for longer durations and inject much more fluid than is injected during the hydraulic fracturing process, making them more likely to induce earthquakes. The fluid injected at depth during fracking can be hydraulically connected to faults, increasing fluid pressures within the fault and making earthquakes more likely to occur. This has been observed in Oklahoma, which has the most induced earthquakes in the United States, with 2% of earthquakes linked to hydraulic fracturing operations.

The largest earthquake known to be induced by hydraulic fracturing in the United States occurred in 2018 in Texas and registered a magnitude of 4.0. However, it is important to note that most earthquakes linked to fracking operations are minor and cause little to no damage. For example, a study in Alberta, Canada, observed small earthquakes that occurred during or right after fracking and were confined to a limited area, with no history of seismic activity prior to fracking.

While fracking has been linked to minor earthquakes, the greatest risk of earthquakes due to fracking comes from pumping the wastewater from those operations back into deep sandstone or other formations for permanent disposal. Wastewater injection can raise pressure levels in rock formations over larger areas and for longer periods than hydraulic fracturing, making it more likely to induce earthquakes. This has been observed in various locations, including Youngstown, Ohio, where wastewater injection was blamed for earthquakes measuring 2.7 and 4.0 on the Richter scale.

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