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Myth Busting – Fracking Fluids Are Harmless
The potential for fracking to endanger our environment, and indeed our lives, is one of the most contentious issues we face here. The most likely culprit here is the fracking fluid that they use.
To do “slickwater” fracking the industry needs to add chemicals which improve the gas-flow. Different type and quantities of chemicals will be used depending on local geological conditions, and how much they need to improve productivity. To put it simply, if they want more gas they can use greater quantities of nastier chemicals.
One of the standard means by which the industry tries to rubbish those who raise concerns is to say that their fracking fluid contains the same chemicals as washing up water or contact lens solutions and that the chemicals used only make up a small percentage of the total volume of fracking fluid.
Leaving aside the question as to whether my contact lens fluid or my washing up liquid really contain things like hyrdrochloric acid (maybe that’s why my hands are so red and my eyes get so sore?), this ignores the fact that the chemicals need to be transported to the wells (there will be at least 800 wells here on the Fylde) in a far more concentrated, if not neat, form giving plenty of opportunity for severe contamination in case of an accident.
Source: http://philosophers-stone.co.uk/wordpress/2014/05/myth-busting-fracking-fluids-are-harmless/
