“While [hydraulic fracturing] can help provide energy for America's future, it also poses a new dangerous threat to wildlife and the environment. Toxic chemicals are used during fracking that can infiltrate and contaminate habitat, waterways, and even the drinking water that people and wildlife depend on” (1996-2013). Evidently, “some opponents of oil and natural gas production claim that fracking has serious environmental consequences. The truth is, while all development has challenges, hydraulic fracturing technology has a strong environmental track record and is employed under close supervision by state, local and federal regulators. Studies by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Ground Water Protection Council (GWPC) have confirmed no direct link between hydraulic fracturing operations and groundwater contamination.
al.). Some pollutants – for instance, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons – can lead to life-threatening diseases in humans and wildlife, such as cancer (Harvey). Scientists use many different methods to remove these pollutants from water supplies; one of those methods is the utilization of adsorption onto a porous substance, normally charcoal. Due to numerous circumstances, scientists have begun searching for alternatives to charcoal, one of them being Bentonite clay. However, Bentonite clay cannot be easily removed from the water, so in this project the students were instructed to modify the clay to make it magnetic and then compare its effectiveness in absorbing a model PAH against charcoal.
Conversely, Chemical plants can contaminate the pure water or create harmful diseases to humans and the Earth. The West Virginia chemical spill demonstrates the dangers chemical plants pose to our environment, and it is important to understand the devastating
Each of these compounds is known to be poisonous, cancerous, or cause birth defects. The EPA fears that the drinking water will compromised due to runoff of the surface water discharge. Additionally, contamination of underground sources of drinking water and inadequate treatment of the waste water are possible. The threat of contaminated water supplies can cause a fearful population, largely due to the propaganda spread by anti-fracking initiatives. Although there are potential economical disadvantages to fracking, there are also enormous positives.
The harmful effects of fracking need to be stopped, but only if we understand what damage occurs during this process so that we can come up with solutions to save drinking water. While groundwater is contaminated by many environmental factors such as automobile exhaust, evidence has suggested that fracking is also responsible for the pollution. According to John Manuel, a regular contributor to the online journal Environmental
Summary Essay - the Obligation to Endure In the article "the Obligation to Endure", published in 1962 for Rachel Carson's book "Silent Spring", mainly indicates the destructive influence of the chemical substances to the environment. The author holds the view that the excessive use of chemical products like pesticides and insecticides damage to the environment deeply and even to human. With the detail definition, Carson believes that the environment exists under an adjusted and balanced situation after the past millions of years of changes. Environment can transfer the harmful substances by itself, but the rapid development of chemical technology makes the environment does not have enough time to adjust and adapt it. Enormous chemicals
Waste management companies and the EPA addressed some of the issues in the 1980s by adopting the “dry tomb” philosophy of landfill construction which focused on isolating garbage from its immediate surroundings. Also new landfills would have liners that protected groundwater from “leaking garbage juice” and a series of pipes to funnel out said juices. Royte points out that the problem is, even the best plastics will ultimately leak and break. Also, this problem is going to exist as long as landfills do. More updated methods of accelerating decomposition have been introduced in more recent years, however, these liquids are still potentially leaking.
Proper disposal of old tires, used oil and other automotive or machinery wastes are several of the forerunners of polluting agents. The overuses of pesticides, fertilizers as well as industrial accidents are additional trepidations that threaten the quality of the water supply and endanger wildlife. In the University of Phoenix simulation (n.d.), an article regarding Neighborhood Lake, officials are confirming what many environmental activist groups have been proclaiming that Neighborhood Lake's concentration of pollutants has reached critical levels. However, it is never too late to change both thought and practice in order to preserve water quality for the future.
Proper disposal methods should be effected to ensure the water aquifers around do not get contaminated. 5. After analyzing the arguments for and against fracking, state your position about whether people’s concerns are warranted. Absolutely people’s concerns are warranted, these chemicals in our water supply have cancer causing agents that hinder health. References Else, H. (2012).
Science Focus: Bisphenol A Estrogen mimic Found in many common products Laboratory findings Effects on human health Should it be banned? 17-4 How Can We Evaluate and Deal with Chemical Hazards? Concept 17-4A Scientists use live laboratory animals, non-animal tests, case reports of poisonings, and epidemiological studies to estimate the toxicity of chemicals, but these methods have limitations. Concept 17-4B Many health scientists call for much greater emphasis on pollution prevention to reduce our exposure to potentially harmful candidates. Toxicology Toxicity: Measure of how harmful a chemical is Water-soluble toxins, oil of fat soluble toxins Dosage: The amount of substance a person has taken Persistence: The ability of a substance to resist breaking down Bioaccumulation: The absorption and storage of toxins in organs and tissue Biomagnification: The increase of toxin levels as they go up the food chain Toxicology Synergistic interaction: Interaction of two or more factors or processes so that the combined effects is greater than the sum of their separate effects Response: The type & amount of damage from a