The Dangers of Hydraulic Fracturing

Brian Lima

17 April 2014

Johnson State College

Hydraulic fracturing is an environmentally

hazardous practice that endangers humans

by polluting water, degrading air quality, and

compromising geological stability.

Hydraulic fracturing is associated with increased methane in drinking water wells.

Osborn 2011

Methane in drinking water is extremely dangerous.

Fox 2012

Flaring is a common industry practice that releases carbon dioxide into the atmosphere.

Evanson 2014

Methane escapes directly into the atmosphere when not flared.

Dlugokencky 2012

Hydraulic fracturing pollutes millions of gallons of water which are stored on site or require transport.

Ecosphere Technologies 2012

Hydraulic fracturing has been linked to an increase in seismic activity.

Ananda 2011

Hydraulic fracturing has been linked to an increase in seismic activity.

USGS 2013

Hydraulic fracturing is not worth

the risk posed to human health

to produce a finite, polluting

source of energy.

Do not allow media savvy oil and gas

companies to sway your opinion on this

controversial topic. Money energy and

education should be focused towards

legitimate forms of clean energy rather

than expanding upon production of

polluting fossil fuels.

References

Ananda, Rady, 2011. Fracking the Life out of Arkansas and Beyond. Retrieved 16 April 2014, from http://www.activistpost.com/2011/01/fracking-life-out-of-arkansas-and.html.

Dlugokencky, Ed, 2014. Average Atmospheric Methane Concentration in Parts Per Billion. Retrieved March 2014, from http://arstechnica.com/science/2014/02/methane-burned-vs-methane-leaked-frackings-

impact- on-climate-change/.

Ecosphere technologies, 2012. Hydrofracking Drives New Water Treatment Solutions. Retrieved 15 April 2014, from http://www.smartplanet.com/blog/intelligent-energy/hydrofracking-drives-new-water-treatment- solutions/.

Evanson, Tim, 2014. Natural Gas Being Flared Near a Production Well in North Dakota. Retrieved March 2014, from http://arstechnica.com/science/2014/02/methane-burned-vs-methane-leaked-

frackings-impact- on-climate-change/.

Fox, Josh, 2010, Gasland Documentary. Retrieved 3 February 2014, from http://truedemocracyparty.net/ 2013/12/gasland-fracking-hell-the-truth-behind-hydrofracking-hormone-disrupting-chemicals-

linked-to- fracking-nat-geo/.

Osborn, S., A. Vengosh, N.R. Warner and R.B. Jackson, 2011. Methane Contamination of Drinking Water Accompanying Gas-Well Drilling and Hydraulic Fracturing. Retrieved 11 March 2014 from http://www.pnas.org/content/early/2011/05/02/1100682108.full.pdf+html.

U.S. Geological Survey, 2013. Earthquakes in Oklahoma Between 1973 and 2001. Retrieved 16 April 2014, from http://www.popsci.com/science/article/2013-03/largest-earthquake-ever-linked-lightly-

regulated- wastewater-wells.