Hydraulic fracturing, typically known as fracking is a type of natural resource extraction that began in the 1980’s. Fracking is a well-known and discussed topic that has its benefits and disadvantages but one person can never determine whether or not the risks outweigh the benefits. Because of the particular mix of chemicals that they put in the ground it can seep through the ground and into the ground water. The chemicals do not only poison water but air as well, which can be harmful to citizens. Innocent people and animals who live near drill sites are becoming sick due to the toxins included into their everyday life. Although these risks are shocking and disturbing people can get an abundant amount of natural …show more content…
The chemical mixture may be harmful to humans and animals, but it is extremely helpful in the fracking process. According to “Fracking Explained Opportunity or Danger,” the chemicals kill bacteria, compress the water, and break down the minerals of the mixture. The Marcellus in Pennsylvania, West Virginia, and New York claim to have enough natural gas to power the entire United States for 110 years (“Fracking Good Idea?”). All the natural power that they have stored away was extracted using the fracking process. In the words of Scott Tong and Matt Berger from “One Fracking Minute,” the hole that is drilled by the workers is lined with cement. If the hole is lined with cement it lowers the chance of any dangerous materials leaking into the ground, but it does not stop it. Fracking has its many pros and cons but no one can really decide for sure if one outweighs the other.
Despite the fact that fracking has one overall benefit, the risks are just too big of a price to pay. Even though hydraulic fracking lets people use natural resources, it has shocking risks such as ground water pollution, air pollution, and making innocent citizens ill. No one has to be an expert on fracking to plainly see and to know that losing unwary humans and animals to hydraulic fracking is