sory organs; approximately 50% could affect the brain/nervous system, immune and cardiovascular systems, and the kidneys; 37% could affect the endocrine system; and 25% could cause cancer and mutations.”(279) A few of the hundreds of chemicals include: • Methanol (HAP) - Very common ingredient in fracking products. Corrosion inhibitor and surfactant. Efficient solvent causing nervous system dysfunction, headaches, dizziness, sleep disorders, visual damage, nausea, metabolic acidosis. Prompt treatment needed. (126)(245) • Naphthalene (HAP) - Commonly used. Surfactant carrier. Respiratory tract irritation, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, fever, or death. (246) • Sulfuric Acid - Respiratory irritation. • Formaldehyde (HAP) - Respiratory irritation, sneezing, coughing, asthma, fatigue, skin rash, severe allergic reactions, nasopharyngeal cancer. (247) • Hydrogen Fluoride (HAP) - Powerful toxin. Easily absorbed through skin. Rash, respiratory irritant, electrolyte dysfunction, visual loss, chronic lung disease, death from irregular heartbeat or rapid pulmonary edema. A lethal dose is 1.5 grams. (241)(243) • Ethylene Glycol - Commonly used. Stabilizer. Odorless liquid with a sweet taste. Also used as antifreeze. Ingestion causes CNS depression, dizziness, cerebral edema, nausea, vomiting, abdominal cramps, metabolic acidosis, acute renal failure, cardiac failure. Treatment delay harmful and sometimes lethal. (126)(244)(245) • Gluteraldehyde - Biocide. Commonly used. Headaches, nausea, respiratory irritation, difficulty breathing, asthma, rash, contact dermatitis, allergic dermatitis, skin sensitizer. • Crystalline silica dust - Commonly used to keep frack rock open. Progressive pulmonary failure, lung cancer. (203)
and click on the “Committees/Environmental Health” tab.
References Hydraulic Fracturing Video
1. Fracking Hell: The Untold Story. http://www.youtube.com/ watch?v=dEB_Wwe-uBM 2. Farmers Say Fracking Chemicals Contaminate Wells, Kill Almond, Cherry Trees. Kern County Board of Supervisors. November 13, 2012. http://www.youtube.com/ watch?v=b43Wzk6RQ4Y
References
1. Gasland. http://www.gaslandthemovie.com/whats-fracking 2. Affirming Gasland. http://www.gaslandthemovie.com/whatsfracking/affirming-gasland 3. The New Oil Landscape. National Geographic. March 2013, Page 32. http://ngm.nationalgeographic.com/2013/03/bakkenshale-oil/dobb-text 4. Questions about the safety of fracking. http://www.nytimes. com/2011/11/09/opinion/questions-about-the-safety-of-fracking. html 5. Energy and Environment. Environmental Aspects on Unconventional Fossil Fuels. European Commission. 2011. http://ec.europa.eu/environment/integration/energy/ unconventional_en.htm
Shaleshocked
More than 1,000 cases of chemical contamination from fracking have been documented by courts and state and local governments in Colorado, New Mexico, Alabama, Ohio, and Pennsylvania. These included cases where the toxic exposure was caused by well failures in which the concrete or steel meant to protect aquifers cracked under high pressure. In others, frack wastewater was dumped in unlined pits and chemicals seeped into the water table. (221) It is almost impossible to determine the exact cause of each contamination, or examine regional effects on humans, water, or the environment, however, because much of the chemical composition of fracking fluids is considered proprietary. Not even the EPA knows what is in the drilling fluids. Wyoming was the first state, in 2010, to require disclosure. However, because of the trade secrets law, about 30% of the chemicals in fracking fluid are still not reported, according to the Environmental Defense Fund. (47) (48) In addition, fracking operators also can alter what is in the fluid they are using at any time during the fracking process. Thus, the exact composition of the chemicals in the fluid may change moment to moment. There is no requirement to monitor baseline levels of toxins in deep or superficial water bodies prior to or after fracking. This makes it virtually impossible to track the effects of fracking or conclude with any level of veracity that fracking is safe. For the complete article and a full report of all references, visit www.sccma-mcms.org, SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 2013 | THE BULLETIN | 13