The fracking process involves the use of harmful chemicals mixed in with the water used. It is difficult to contain all of the chemicals and contaminated water from spreading to healthy water. This damages the environment and hurts the people around that area. “Streams polluted by the wastewater of fracking contained levels of contaminants that often exceeded federal guidelines for safe drinking water or aquatic health. Soil at the spill sites was contaminated with radium, a naturally occurring radioactive element found in brines, which chemically attaches to the soil after the spill water is released.” (UPI Space Daily, Par. 2) The wastewater that is present after the fracking process can be regularly contaminated with harsh chemicals, making it very unsafe. Harsh
…show more content…
student of Vengosh's who was lead author of the study. "They don't go away; they stay. This has created a legacy of radioactivity at spill sites." (UPI Space Daily, Par. 8) The waste and chemicals that are present after the fracking process does not easily go away, leaving a lasting effect on the environment around the fracking site. Another problem with fracking includes the use of huge amounts of water, and once that water is used it will be useless, since it’s contaminated. “It's not just the vast amounts of water that are required, or the chemicals that are added to it. As West Virginia residents learned in January, when their water supply was contaminated by the leak of a mysterious compound known as MCHM into the Elk River, there are virtually no regulations on the storage of chemicals. To be sure, some of the chemicals used in fracking, such as benzene, are known carcinogens. But when water is pumped back up from deep underground, it can bring all sorts of additional contaminants up with it.” (Naff,
student of Vengosh's who was lead author of the study. "They don't go away; they stay. This has created a legacy of radioactivity at spill sites." (UPI Space Daily, Par. 8) The waste and chemicals that are present after the fracking process does not easily go away, leaving a lasting effect on the environment around the fracking site. Another problem with fracking includes the use of huge amounts of water, and once that water is used it will be useless, since it’s contaminated. “It's not just the vast amounts of water that are required, or the chemicals that are added to it. As West Virginia residents learned in January, when their water supply was contaminated by the leak of a mysterious compound known as MCHM into the Elk River, there are virtually no regulations on the storage of chemicals. To be sure, some of the chemicals used in fracking, such as benzene, are known carcinogens. But when water is pumped back up from deep underground, it can bring all sorts of additional contaminants up with it.” (Naff,