Effects on Air Quality

High volume Hydraulic fracturing (HVHF), also known as fracking has associated with multiple damages to the nearby environment, one of these damage is air pollution. Because of the nature of fracking procedure and its association with natural gas and oil, harmful chemicals, such as benzenes and xylenes, are discharge into the air (Mrdjen &Lee, 2016). Mrdjen and Lee mention that chronic exposure to these toxic chemicals can cause an increased risk of cancer, particular within 0.5 miles of the HVHF well. Besides releasing poisonous chemicals, HVHF also release greenhouse gas, methane, which may contribute to greenhouse effect. Due to the fault process of HVHF’s gas collection process, about 3.6 to 7.9% of methane are leak into the atmosphere during the service life of a HVHF well (Mrdjen & Lee, 2016). Since methane has a higher potential to trap heat than carbon dioxide during its life time, the outcome of methane leak during HVHF process should not be neglected.

 

Reference

Mrdjen,I. & Lee, J.Y. (2016). High volume hydraulic fracturing operations: potential impacts on surface water and human health, International Journal of Environmental Health Research, 26:4, 361-380, DOI: 10.1080/09603123.2015.1111314

 

air-pollution