Hydraulic Fracturing

As new technologies develop and expand their reach, different positive and negative consequences begin to appear. It is within the public’s best interest to be fully aware of new innovations and advocate for transparency and reliable research. The United States is currently seeing the need for transparency with our progressive methods on extracting natural gas. Hydraulic fracturing is negatively contributing to public health in many direct and indirect ways. These impacts can be seen both in an environmental and human health perspective, as both of these aspects contribute greatly to one another. Potential hazards include ground water contamination, air pollution, induced earth tremors, improper wastewater disposal, chemical exposure, and

The process starts with drilling a hole into the ground where hard rock formations are abundant. Shale, tight sand, and coal seam are primarily used as natural gas deposits in the United States (EPA, 2016). The hole is then drilled horizontally, usually for miles across to access enough shale rock. Large volumes of fluid are sent down the opening at a highly pressurized rate (BBC, 2015). The fluid, a mixture of chemicals, water, and sand, is sent along the horizontal section, which causes the geological formation to break, or fracture from the pressure. Within these fractures are natural gas molecules, which are forced to the ground surface when they are released by the fracking fluid. Massive amounts of fresh water from local sources are needed; approximately 5 million gallons (Gottlieb, 2012). This form of natural gas extraction increases the amount of fresh water used by each natural gas well by as much as one hundred times the quantity used in conventional drilling (Gilbert, 2010). Risk of contamination can be through seepage or spillage into ground water supply, improper wastewater disposal, and natural gas leakage (EPA, 2016). Rural communities and fracturing have a higher risk of being exposed to toxic fracturing fluid and poor air

This expansion has helped provide new employment opportunities, increased economic development, and gained the United States more independence from foreign energy sources. Natural gas extraction can also be considered a cleaner energy solution. Compared to burning coal, burning natural gas releases 58% less carbon dioxide (Finkel & Law, 2011). Despite these advantages, too little research has been completed to know the full impact that hydraulic fracturing can have. This inadequacy has led to poor risk communication with communities that have well fields, and has allowed drilling companies to be irresponsible with their practices because there is limited regulations in place. This fast pace has not allowed time for environmental and public health advocates to accurately evaluating the potential risks to their respective