How does natural gas extraction lead to pollution?<\/strong>
\nAs part of the effort to diversify and expand the energy portfolio of the U.S., federal leaders have talked extensively about the potential value of shale, which is a type of rock that traps usable natural gas. Shale will become increasingly important to the natural gas production of the country during the next two decades. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, shale will account for half of the natural gas resources of the country by 2035.<\/p>\nOne of the processes that can be used to extract natural gas from shale is an operation known as hydraulic fracturing, or fracking. Companies that resort to fracking dig wells and crack rock open with the help of pressurized liquids, resulting in large volumes of wastewater. The potential for this wastewater to contaminate local bodies of water is just one reason why environmental scientists are concerned about fracking.<\/p>\n
In addition to fracking, natural gas producers are resorting to other forms of drilling that are not standard vertical techniques to reach their sources. Directional drilling is a broad term used to describe processes that drill to offset targets. According to projects sponsored by the University of Arkansas and Argonne National Laboratory, directional drilling is supposed to be relatively environmentally friendly because it allows drilling companies to create wells that are not directly above their sources.<\/p>\n
What does research say about the risks?<\/strong>
\nIn the past, there have been several studies suggesting that pollution associated with unconventional oil and gas operations, which include fracking and directional drilling, pose harm to early human development. To get a better understanding of the situation, a team of scientists led by the University of Missouri reviewed more than 150 research papers pertaining to the health effects of chemical compounds in UOG operations. These studies included projects that explored air and water pollution.<\/p>\n"There are far fewer human studies than animal studies; however, taken together, the studies did show that humans can be harmed by these chemicals released from fracking," Susan Nagel, a researcher with the University of Missouri, said in a statement. "There is strong evidence of decreased semen quality in men, higher miscarriages in women and increased risk of birth defects in children. There is a striking need for continued research on UOG processes and chemicals and the health outcomes in people."<\/p>\n
According to Nagel and her colleagues, about 15 million individuals in the U.S. live within one mile of a UOG site.<\/p>\n
In November 2014, researchers from the University of Colorado Boulder published a study suggesting that the surfactants used in fracking liquids are no more harmful than other surfactants produced by ordinary household waste. However, the authors of this study cautioned that fracking companies often modify the formulas of their fracking liquids. Furthermore, the UCB study did not explore other environmental concerns, such as the impact on local seismology and the use of antimicrobial biocides. Research on the full effects of fracking and other UOG methods continues.<\/p>\n