November 29, 2012 at 10:42 a.m.
What the frack are they thinking?
By by Brooke Bechen-
Although many politicians are sure that fracking will create jobs and reduce our dependency on foreign energy, I am convinced that fracking will do more damage than good, affecting our environment in serious ways and possibly affecting us.
Water, chemicals (some of them carcinogens) and sand are pumped into the deep underground through a well. The mixture of these chemicals basically fractures the underground rock bed, allowing for natural gas and oil to flow into the well, where it can be pumped to the surface.
How can pumping chemicals deep into the Earth be good for the environment? The simple answer is that it is not.
One element of the environment that is affected is the air we breathe. A study published in the Los Angeles Times in March 2012 states that fracking may increase air pollution health risks, meaning those living close to drilling sites could be in danger of breathing in toxic hydrocarbons.
When releasing chemicals into the ground, there is always the chance that the water we drink will become contaminated. Has anyone ever thought about that? To me, it is truly not worth the risk.
The National Wildlife Federation has taken into account the effects on wildlife in areas where fracking technology is being used. Animals are affected through water contamination and the destruction of their habitats for fracking purposes.
Farmers living around drilling sites in Colorado, Louisiana, New York, Ohio and Pennsylvania have reported farm animals becoming sick from exposure to fracking chemicals.
If animals are getting sick from these chemicals, what makes politicians think that their citizens are safe?
Vermont became the first state to ban hydraulic fracturing and so far, is the only state to do so.
To me, the choice is clear. The environmental effects outweigh the political ones. Let's keep our environment and ourselves safe by asking if fracking really is a "clean" way to produce energy.
