Environmental impact of hydraulic fracturing

Hydraulic fracturing (also known as fracking) is a way of getting natural gas or oil from rocks deep inside the earth. Companies do this by using a mix of water, sand, and chemicals and pumping them into the earth at a very high pressure. This pressure breaks apart the rocks and releases the natural gas or oil so it can be collected.

The environmental impact of fracking can be bad. The chemicals used can escape into the air and water and pollute the environment. Fracking can also cause earthquakes and can use large amounts of water which takes it away from other uses. Also, burning natural gas for energy can create air pollution and influence climate change.