How Fracking Can Harm Your Health

Energy independence is a great thing. Oil and gas production are on the rise in the United States through hydraulic fracturing (fracking) in the last several years. Fracking has led us away from the use of coal and helped provide for over half of our oil and natural gas in 2015 alone. Surely that should be a good thing, right? Unfortunately, events have indicated that there could be serious health consequences. A recent incident in Pennsylvania had people scratching their heads about why we keep using a process that can be risky and has the potential to harm the environment and the health of families and pets.

Fracking Wastewater

The fracking process leads to a high production of wastewater, which is abundant in endocrine disrupting chemicals, radioactive material, metals, and other potentially harmful material. Recently, researchers discovered that the treatment and release of this wastewater has contaminated the Conemaugh River Lake in Western Pennsylvania. In 2015, Marcellus Shale gas and oil wells produced about 1.7 billion gallons of this wastewater. Yikes! This isn’t good news.

Endocrine Disruptors

If radiation and heavy metals in the water don’t sound awful enough, one of the other main dangers of fracking is the endocrine disrupting chemicals. In both humans and animals, these chemicals can cause problems with the endocrine system, as well as negatively affecting development, reproduction, and the immune system. You can ingest endocrine disruptors through food or water, but you can also inhale them or absorb them through the skin. Research indicates that the chemicals can be dangerous to the neurodevelopment of children and unborn babies as well.

Other Fracking Accidents

Guess what? This also isn’t the first time there’s been a fracking accident. There have been numerous fluid and gas leaks over the years, contaminating water and evacuating homes. In 2011 a Pennsylvania Chesapeake Energy gas well spilled thousands of gallons of water toward seven homes and a fishing stream. A similar incident happened in 2015 in Arlington, Texas, when a fluid spill of over 42,000 gallons evacuated about 100 homes.

The environmental and health consequences of fracking are becoming more serious as the industry grows. While it clearly has some potential benefits, are those benefits worth the risks?