Fracking

Hydraulic fracturing, or "fracking," is a natural gas extraction process that is proving to have negative consequences for human health and for climate change. Fracking for natural gas extraction creates potentially harmful health effects along its entire life cycle: the hydraulic fracturing technique itself, as well as associated processes including road building, pad clearing, truck trips, drilling, cementing, flowback waters, offgassing, fugitive emissions, compressors, and pipelines. Among the most serious sources of concern are: >
 * **Toxic drilling fluids and fracturing fluids**, injected deep underground and then withdrawn, may contaminate underground aquifers and surface waters.
 * **Air emissions including volatile organic compounds (VOCs)**threaten human health, especially of workers and residents of the immediate vicinity.
 * **Diesel pollution and noise pollution** can be constant, as truck traffic is intensive and fracking continues 24-7.
 * **Stress factors** affect the quality of life in communities where drilling occurs.
 * **Methane leaks** accelerate climate change. Methane is 72 times more potent at capturing heat in the atmosphere than carbon dioxide over the first 20 years after release
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