Introduction Fracking has been a very controversial topic for several year, though the positive impacts of fracking do not outweigh the negative impacts on the environment. Fracking poses serious risks to the health of both environment and those that live within. Air quality is lessened on a daily bases because of suggested methane leaks, that are eliminating the positive effects of naturally occurring greenhouse gases. Due to the high-impact hydraulic fracturing of the Earth’s crust, water contamination of nearby water tables has been recorded, leading to poor tap water quality, and because of the high amount of water required for fracking operations, it diminishes the availability for recreational use. In 2015, about 19.4 million barrels
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Methane gas has a GWP of 20, over a 100 year period, meaning that for every pound of methane gas that is released into the atmosphere, it contributes as much as 20 pounds of CO2 into the atmosphere. Methane is an extremely potent gas, and can trap up to 86 times as much heat from CO2. Even if the emissions of methane were to reduces to zero, greenhouse gas emissions will not decrease substantially, and delaying the release of renewable energy sources may create more long term issues. By 2100, global temperatures are expected to be increased by 2.7°F, and under the most aggressive scenarios, is expected to, at the minimum, double within the next 100 years. In the U.S. alone, temperatures are expected to increase anywhere from 3°F to …show more content…
Nearly 75% of the chemicals will affect the skin, eyes, and other sensory related organs, 40%-50% affect the brain and nervous system, immunity, cardiovascular, and kidneys, and 25% could cause cancer or genetic mutation. Even small exposure to chemicals such as those used in fracking can cause detrimental health effects, and long term effect still have yet to undergo studies, to uncover just how bad toxic exposure can be. It had been recently discovered that radon gas levels are 39% high near areas in which fracking occurs. Radon, being a odorless, tasteless, invisible gas, is the second leading cause of lung cancer. An estimated 21,000 of the death caused by lung cancer, are because of radon exposure. Silica is a sand used when fracking, but when mixed with human systems, this can lead to poor lung function. Long term exposure can have much more deadly consequences. Silica exposure can lead to bronchitis, lung inflammation, or cause silicosis, a severe form of pulmonary fibrosis, and kills hundreds annually. In areas where fracking occurs, the methane concentrations are 17 times higher in drinking wells, and water
Methane gas has a GWP of 20, over a 100 year period, meaning that for every pound of methane gas that is released into the atmosphere, it contributes as much as 20 pounds of CO2 into the atmosphere. Methane is an extremely potent gas, and can trap up to 86 times as much heat from CO2. Even if the emissions of methane were to reduces to zero, greenhouse gas emissions will not decrease substantially, and delaying the release of renewable energy sources may create more long term issues. By 2100, global temperatures are expected to be increased by 2.7°F, and under the most aggressive scenarios, is expected to, at the minimum, double within the next 100 years. In the U.S. alone, temperatures are expected to increase anywhere from 3°F to …show more content…
Nearly 75% of the chemicals will affect the skin, eyes, and other sensory related organs, 40%-50% affect the brain and nervous system, immunity, cardiovascular, and kidneys, and 25% could cause cancer or genetic mutation. Even small exposure to chemicals such as those used in fracking can cause detrimental health effects, and long term effect still have yet to undergo studies, to uncover just how bad toxic exposure can be. It had been recently discovered that radon gas levels are 39% high near areas in which fracking occurs. Radon, being a odorless, tasteless, invisible gas, is the second leading cause of lung cancer. An estimated 21,000 of the death caused by lung cancer, are because of radon exposure. Silica is a sand used when fracking, but when mixed with human systems, this can lead to poor lung function. Long term exposure can have much more deadly consequences. Silica exposure can lead to bronchitis, lung inflammation, or cause silicosis, a severe form of pulmonary fibrosis, and kills hundreds annually. In areas where fracking occurs, the methane concentrations are 17 times higher in drinking wells, and water