What is

Fracking?

Fracking is a method of extracting

natural gas that involves drilling large
amounts of water underground at
incredibly high pressures.
Fractures are then created in shale
gas reserves deep underground and
the gas is extracted for use. However,
this process is grossly inefficient and
damaging both to local communities
in which the drilling occurs, and the
environment as a whole.

WORKS CITED
Information:

"What Is Fracking and Why Is It

Controversial? - BBC News." BBC News. BBC, 16 Dec.
2015. Web. 01 Mar. 2016.

"What Goes In & Out of Hydraulic Fracking."

Dangers of Fracking. N.p., n.d. Web. 01 Mar. 2016.

"The Costs of Fracking." The Costs of

Fracking. Environment America Research and Policy
Center, 20 Sept. 2012. Web. 01 Mar. 2016.

Hoffman, Joe. "Potential Health and

Environmental Effects of Hydrofracking in the Williston
Basin, Montana." Case Studies. Department of Earth
Sciences, Montana State University, 07 Dec. 2015.
Web. 02 Mar. 2016.

Kille, Leighton Walter. "The Impact of Natural

Gas Extraction and Fracking on State and Local
Roadways - Journalist's Resource." Journalists
Resource. Harvard Kennedy School, 21 Mar. 2014.
Web. 09 Mar. 2016.

"Stop Fracking Our Future." Stop Fracking

Our Future. Environment America Research and Policy
Center, n.d. Web. 09 Mar. 2016.
Images:

Mark Ruffalo holding a gallon of contaminated

Fracking Water. Digital image. State Impact. NPR. Web.
09 Mar. 2016. <https://stateimpact.npr.org/
pennsylvania/2011/12/06/the-latest-on-dimock-protests/
img_0451/>.

Sign displaying chemicals often used in

fracking water. Digital image. Oil Change International.
Oil Change International, 11 Dec. 2013. Web. 09 Mar.
2016.

Cullen Mason
Visual Communication

The
Problem
with
Fracking

Environmental
Impact

Community
Impact

What can
you do?

Soil

Infrastructure

Contact your state representatives and tell them to

protect your water, air, and
land.

Can pollute soil with uranium, strontium, and other radioactive isotopes.
Left-over fluid rises and contaminates soil with more chemicals.

Water Pollution

Leaks over 600 chemicals into

groundwater
Fracking water has 17x higher concentrations of methane
1,000 documented cases of water
contamination in cities
50-70% of fluid is left behind to pollute water

A sign displaying some of the carcinogenic

chemicals found in fracking water.

Massive damage to roads: equivalent

to 3.5 million car trips after one fracking
excursion.

Economic

Devalue of homes near fracking cites by

an average of 14%.
Cost of living increases significantly.

Health

Residents and miners at increased risk

to contract silicosis, a rare lung disease.
Public health costs increase as residents
develop severe respiratory problems.

Woman lighting methane contaminated water on

fire in her kitchen .

Vote for representatives and

political leaders who support a transition to clean
energy

Mark Ruffalo holding a gallon of

contaminated fracking water.