As of lately, a process called hydraulic fracturing (fracking) has been all over news channels across America and other countries. Hydraulic Fracturing is defined as a process by which fractures in the rocks below the Earth's surface are opened and widened by injecting sand and/or chemicals at high pressure to extract natural gas or oil ("What is Fracking?"). Fracking is used to extract shale gas, tight sand gas, tight sand oil, and coal seam gas (better known as methane). Hydraulic fracturing is a relatively older extraction process; however, it has been gaining controversy lately over the issues of water contamination, possible negative effects on the environment, and health hazards ("Danger of Fracking"). Despite many claims by critics,
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Fracking fluid is used in fracking wells to help pop and hold open the fractures created by pressurized water and sand. The fluid is 90% water, 9.5% sand, and the remaining 0.5% is chemicals ("What Chemicals are Used?"). Although, chemicals is a harsh term to label the fluid because many are common household ones that are not harmful to human body, wildlife, or environment. In addition, one well's mixture usually contains less than twenty-five chemicals. Some examples of these chemicals are sodium chloride, table salt; sodium/potassium carbonate, an animal feed ingredient; guar gum, conditioner; sorbic acid, contact lens solution; and hydrochloric acid, stomach acid ("What Chemicals are Used?"). Many of the chemicals found within a fracked well can either be found in processed food or body products or in human bodies, meaning that the general public is already exposed or utilizing many of the chemicals used in a well. These chemicals are used for numerous processes including limiting bacterial growth, preventing corrosion of the castings, breaking down minerals, suspension, pH balancers, and maintaining viscosity ("What Chemicals are Used"). Fracking fluid is not used for the intention of harming the environment, but instead, is to prevent any unnatural or harmful consequences from occurring once the well has been drilled. The Interstate Oil and Gas Compact Commission (IOGCC) and Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) report no pollution of water due to fracking fluid to this
Fracking fluid is used in fracking wells to help pop and hold open the fractures created by pressurized water and sand. The fluid is 90% water, 9.5% sand, and the remaining 0.5% is chemicals ("What Chemicals are Used?"). Although, chemicals is a harsh term to label the fluid because many are common household ones that are not harmful to human body, wildlife, or environment. In addition, one well's mixture usually contains less than twenty-five chemicals. Some examples of these chemicals are sodium chloride, table salt; sodium/potassium carbonate, an animal feed ingredient; guar gum, conditioner; sorbic acid, contact lens solution; and hydrochloric acid, stomach acid ("What Chemicals are Used?"). Many of the chemicals found within a fracked well can either be found in processed food or body products or in human bodies, meaning that the general public is already exposed or utilizing many of the chemicals used in a well. These chemicals are used for numerous processes including limiting bacterial growth, preventing corrosion of the castings, breaking down minerals, suspension, pH balancers, and maintaining viscosity ("What Chemicals are Used"). Fracking fluid is not used for the intention of harming the environment, but instead, is to prevent any unnatural or harmful consequences from occurring once the well has been drilled. The Interstate Oil and Gas Compact Commission (IOGCC) and Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) report no pollution of water due to fracking fluid to this