Fracking Fluid - Is it dangerous?
Yes. A typical 5,000,000 gallon frack contains about 25,000 gallons of chemicals. (The industry likes to dismiss the chemical component of fracking fluid by again putting it in terms of a percentage, as in “Fracking Fluid is 99.5% water and sand.” But do the math*) Among the many toxic chemicals we know (the industry has gotten itself exempt from full disclosure) are arsenic, formaldehyde, diesel fuel, methanol, benzene, lead, and sulfuric acid. The fluid that is retrieved after fracking, and which will require disposal somewhere (see next FAQ), may additionally contain radioactive substances.
There are app. 600-700 total chemicals on the menu from which frackers can choose for their particular brew. A recent study found 632 chemicals, of which only 353 chemicals were even listed by the Chemical Abstract Service (CAS). More than 75% of these chemicals could affect the skin, eyes, other sensory organs, and the respiratory and gastrointestinal systems. Approximately 40-50% could affect the brain, nervous, immune and cardiovascular systems, and the kidneys; 37% could affect the endocrine system; and 25% could cause cancer and genetic mutations.
These results also indicate that many chemicals used and potentially leaking/spilling during drilling and fracking may have long-term health effects not immediately apparent.
*(.5% X 5,000,000 = 25,000)
(Sources: American Academy of Pediatrics, NY / ProPublica / BiologicalDiversity.org)