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Effects Of Fracking On The Environment

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Abstract There are multiple types of fossil fuels, oil, coal, and natural gas. When refined they are used in products like plastic or as fuel to generate energy and power vehicles. However, all of these are harmful to the environment. There are different ways of retrieving these fossil fuels such as fracking. Unfortunately fracking is known to cause contamination to groundwater and off gas pollutants into the air. These pollutants lead to sickness of cattle, wildlife and occasionally the general populus. Offshore drilling can also be detrimental to the environment when an oil spill occurs. Crude oil can coat wildlife and beaches, devastating many ecosystems. Surprisingly carbon dioxide itself is actually quite beneficial to plant life. In …show more content…

Surprisingly carbon dioxide itself is actually quite beneficial to plant life. Between 1982 and 2011, 20.5% of the world's vegetated area got greener, while just 3% grew browner; the rest showed no change. To intake carbon dioxide plants need expel some water in exchange. Over ninety five percent of the water taken up by plants is actually released through their leaves because of this. Subsequently higher carbon dioxide levels allows them to hold onto large amounts of water that they would have otherwise off gassed. Not having to transport as much water they are able to use less energy and generate more food, in the form of sugar, which is then dedicated to growth and reproduction. Over the past few decades the surface of the earth has been getting greener, with more forests and thicker vegetation. The increase in forestation is not only from more carbon dioxide, but also more rainfall due to increased temperatures. Though fossil fuels have actually helped the environment overall, it has been detrimental to certain ecosystems that struggle due to increased temperatures and other harmful …show more content…

Almost all scientific communities agree that the use of fossil fuels is contributing to climate change. However it is argued to what degree fossil fuels actually affect this warming. Many people believe that the changing temperatures is almost solely due to greenhouse gasses generated by fossil fuels, while others argue that the earth goes through natural climate change and we are only slightly what would have occurred naturally. Another interesting aspect of the argument is that the earth has feedback systems that affect the climate. As carbon dioxide in the atmosphere and temperatures go up so does the cooling properties of plants though not enough to

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A prominent fracking problem is the health concerns it introduces. The fracking fluid contains ~94.5% water, ~4% sand, and 1.5% other chemicals (What is Fracking, 2015). The purpose of the 1.5% of chemicals ranges from biocides to friction reducer to iron control; and although 1.5% may not seem like much, it accounts for 260,000 pounds of liquid. In this 260,000 pounds of liquid there are a variety of toxins and carcinogens which can easily spill into the water table and contaminate the water for many miles.

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Fracking is worse for the environment than conventional oil drilling because conventional drilling does not present as many environmental threats as fracking does. It is estimated that energy companies consumed nearly 250 billion gallons of water between 2005 and 2014 for hydraulic fracturing. This is more water per unit of energy produced than conventional oil and gas exploration requires for drilling and cementing wells (How Much Water Do U.S. Fracking Operations Really Use?). Also, fracking companies are not required to disclose the chemicals used in fracking fluids, also known as slickwater. Since the fracking process is so complicated, any mistake could trigger mass contamination of these chemicals into surrounding environments such as

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According to water pollution surveys throughout the communities where hydraulic fracturing drilling takes place, the main concerns are developing serious health problems such as cancer, respiratory disease, reproduction problems, and skin problems just to name a few (Earthworks). Throughout my research, I have yet to come across any materials that support such claims but that is not to say that none exist, these chemicals are very dangerous and should be given respect when handling them. Needless to say, since hydraulic fracturing was first used to recover natural gas and oil in 1947, the industrial industry has taken the necessary steps to ensure and maintain safety first and to ensure the safety of communities and the protection of the

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Hydraulic fracturing, also known as “fracking” is the process where natural gas is extracted from the layer of shale rock found deep in the earth’s crust. Fracking is a highly controversial topic. Controversy arises from debates tying fracking to contaminated drinking water, excessive amounts of water use, higher greenhouse-gas emissions, the use of carcinogens during the process. Few people that are educated on the topic will not choose a side, most will form a strong personal opinion swaying either for or in opposition to fracking. I believe that fracking is dangerous, not only for those living today, but also those that will have to endure the consequences of fracking in the future.

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In Dimock Pennsylvania, Natural gas fracking caused a gas leak which caused many long term and short term impacts on the earth and town itself. Cleanup has been ongoing for over eight years, and it seems that the area may never return to its original condition. Even though it provides many jobs to unemployed people, natural gas fracking damages the environment, poses health problems, and damages manmade and natural infrastructures. According to Rafuse in “Don’t let extremists undermine fracking boom.” , “gas jobs have grown by 18 percent in the last five years, compared to just 4 percent for the rest of the economy.” Natural Gas fracking damages the environment in many ways, including contaminating water.

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Fracking is a useful way to provide energy, however it affects the environment in many ways. Hydraulic Fracturing is a procedure used to extract oil and natural gas by inserting water, sand, and liquids such as chemicals in the subsurface, which indicates that this process can lead to dangerous risks (Weible 232). That method involves drilling feet underground through layers of stones, which indicates that the drilling fractures the rocks (Newton 23). Furthermore, fracking has some benefits that last a brief period, but it is not worth the risk. In fact, fracking is a political and environmental issue that has impacted the world and people’s lives.

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There has been a big debate whether or not fracking is good for the environment; however, scientifically it has been proven fracking is harmful to our ecosystem. Fracking has gone on for several decades, just to collect fossil fuels. Fracking is a process of drilling down into the earth before a high-pressure water mixture is directed at the rock to release the gas inside. Water, sand, and chemicals are injected into the rock at high pressure which allows the gas to flow out to the head of the well. From what I read from the article “Fracking Fuels Energy Debate” is that fracking has caused several environmental issues on our planet.

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Many people are concerned about what the fracking process is doing to both the drinking water supplies and the air people breathe. One of the major reasons for global warming today is a large amount of carbon dioxide being pumped in the air every day. Fracking does not produce as much carbon dioxide but may produce much more methane which can be equally as bad for the environment. This raises awareness that hydraulic fracturing and the use of natural gas may not be as environmentally friendly and clean as once thought. “The data suggest that methane emissions from natural-gas operations could be substantially higher — and so be worse for global warming — than was thought.”

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