Something insidious is happening just below ground, and it has the potential to affect millions of people in the United States. There are already several reported health problems, including polluted drinking water and other safety hazards that have been documented using a process called gas fracking, and it appears to be an accepted technique for obtaining the highest yield of natural gas from the 35,000 plus wells that are “fracked” every year.
You, like most people, may never have even heard of gas fracking before. It’s a process where huge amounts of water are mixed with various chemical compounds and pumped under deep underground into established natural gas wells. using extremely high pressure. This procedure pulverizes the surrounding rock releasing more gas into the well, dramatically increasing natural gas production.
Realistically, there really should not be any effect on the human population with water and chemicals pumped so deep into the earth, In fact, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has given its stamp of approval for all chemicals used in fracking as being safe for both groundwater, human populations, and the environment as a whole. This gives individual states the responsibility for the legislation on whether or not to allow fracking and permits are routinely applied for and granted for this supposed earth friendly technique, even as close to such large urban areas as New York City itself!
So then, what’s the big deal you might be asking?
Just like the secret ingredients involved in making Coca Cola, the chemical cocktails used for fracking wells does not have to be disclosed. In essence, fracking companies are given a free pass to use any chemical approved by the EPA as a gas fracking agent. This witches brew of chemicals gets pumped below ground, aids in the extraction of natural gas, but at what cost? Although EPA approved, it’s the other side of the story that needs to be known.
Gas fracking chemicals nearly killed an emergency room nurse. She was treating a mining employee who was caught in a fracking fluid spill. Pittsburgh residents were told to drink bottled water because high levels of contaminates, thought to come from gas fracking, have been located in their drinking water. Extreme water pressure has been reported in wells and other water sources from gas fracking, blowing water out of toilet tanks and leaving foul odors and an oily residue behind.
In fact, scientific analysis of fracking fluids identifies many of them as highly toxic to humans, and remember, all this has been certified safe by the EPA.
What can be done? Well, there is already a green movement in the gas fracking business. Many of these fracking chemicals can be replaced by such things as plant based and soy oils. Citrus can replace chemical solvents like diesel fuel, and palm oil can be used as a slicking agent-which keeps pipes and drill holes free from clogging with crushed rock and slurry.
Green fracking is already taking place on oil rigs out in the ocean. There are specific rules and regulations which state that any chemical spill by fracking must not pollute the surrounding water, so using these types of environmentally friendly practices work.
The change will come, but it will be slow. If there is known gas fracking in your area, it’s up to you to step forward and lobby your local congress person or Senator and let them know that unless bio-friendly methods are being used, gas fracking chemicals and practices are not safe and environmentally friendly. Knowledge is the key here, and if you want to find out more, punch in “gas fracking” on your search browser, Because Action speaks louder than words!
