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DEBATING THE PROS AND CONS OF FRACKING
Recently there has been a lot of objections to hydraulic fracturing known as "Fracking"
General causes of concern are raised about the following.
Using arsenic in the fracking fluid ( which is a deadly poison ), reports of radioactive radium deposits (which are sometimes found in the shale rock gas) reaching the surface layer due to careless operations, people reporting becoming ill as a result of local fracking. Statistics reporting 1 out of every 150 fracking sites have some form of surface contamination, entire lakes dying as fracking fluid is spilled instead of safety handled and many public reports of loss of drinking water or bad water quality.
Many public opinions are often incorrect due to the fear factors caused by lack of knowledge etc but anyone who has detailed facts on this subject are requested to contribute to this thread.
Thanks in advance for your contributions.
General causes of concern are raised about the following.
Using arsenic in the fracking fluid ( which is a deadly poison ), reports of radioactive radium deposits (which are sometimes found in the shale rock gas) reaching the surface layer due to careless operations, people reporting becoming ill as a result of local fracking. Statistics reporting 1 out of every 150 fracking sites have some form of surface contamination, entire lakes dying as fracking fluid is spilled instead of safety handled and many public reports of loss of drinking water or bad water quality.
Many public opinions are often incorrect due to the fear factors caused by lack of knowledge etc but anyone who has detailed facts on this subject are requested to contribute to this thread.
Thanks in advance for your contributions.
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Hi Roger
Yes its an interesting subject as fracking has been very important to the US economic recovery.
http://www.newstatesman.com/business/2013/10/fracking-propping-us-economy
I think one approach is to keep an eye on US lawsuits as they are the World\'s most litigious nation and if damage is being caused there will be claims and payouts reported.
To date there have been some cases but conclusive evidence of substantial harm from contaminated water seems limited.
I believe that the UK will not reach the same levels of fracking as in the USA, as American fracking produces a substantial amount of oil in addition to the natural gas making it far more profitable to investors.
The two articles below represent the start of US litigation and there will probably be far more in the years to come.
http://edition.cnn.com/2014/04/25/justice/texas-family-wins-fracking-lawsuit/
http://www.csmonitor.com/USA/Latest-News-Wires/2012/0815/Pa.-drilling-town-agrees-to-settlement-in-fracking-federal-lawsuit
In the UK fracking is still in its infancy but I think that cases of substantial harm will be rare and these will be likely the result of negligence rather than the technology itself.
