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Hydraulic fracturing (also known as "fracking") is a drilling technique that allows producers to extract gas from underground shale reserves. To reach the shale, a well is drilled thousands of feet down and then across horizontally into the rock formations. The targeted area is fractured through the use of explosives and a mixture of toxic chemicals, water and sand known as "fracking fluid" or "slickwater" is injected into the well under high pressure. This pressurized mixture helps to release the trapped gas which then flows up the well.
Approximately 30% of this toxic mixture comes back up the well along with other naturally occurring contaminants. This "flowback fluid" is typically stored above ground in open pits until it is transported to wastewater treatment plants, municipal landfills or deep injection wells.
Grassroots is particularly concerned about potential health problems associated with the fracking process, especially for children.
Water contamination and depletion: The chemical mixture used in the drilling process, while secret, is known to contain chemicals linked to cancer and endocrine disruption. These chemicals can permanently contaminate ground water supplies. Gas can also leak from the well, polluting ground water.
Air pollution: The drilling process releases harmful air contaminants including the components of ozone, as well as methane, a potent greenhouse gas. In addition, each drilling operation requires thousands of truck trips to transport water and materials to and from the site, exposing those nearby to diesel exhaust, a known human carcinogen, exposure to which the EPA has declared is unsafe at any level.
Food contamination: Air and water pollutants can potentially find their way into the food system. Agricultural enterprises, including the organic farming, dairy and livestock industries, are threatened with contamination.
Hazardous material pollution: Fracking operations dislodge radioactive materials and heavy metals that naturally occur deep underground. These materials are present in the flowback fluid that is removed from drilling sites and taken to municipal wastewater treatment plants that may not be equipped to handle them.
Industrialization of rural areas: Fracking operations will lead to noise pollution, light pollution and increased traffic in residential communities, farmlands and forests. Pipelines, heavy equipment and pits filled with drilling wastes will be widespread. All of this can negatively impact human health.
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