Resolved: hydraulic fracturing should continue to be used

I have been wanting to debate this subject for a while, and even created a similarly fashioned debate, although nobody accepted. Therefore I am extremely excited to take on this challenge! For my opening round I will divide my arguments into two sub-divisions which will be: D1: Environmental Effects D2: Health Effects I would also like to note that hydraulic fracturing and fracking are the same concepts, just in case any readers become confused. I will generally use the term "fracking" as opposed to hydraulic fracturing. Another issue that I would like to address before I begin my argument is how the process of fracking works. Again, to avoid confusion, I would like to describe that here. First, a hole, or a "wellbore" must be drilled at least 5,000 feet into the earth. Once the drill reaches the 5,000 feet it begins to drill horizontally along the shale layer for about one mile. Then thousands of tiny holes are punctured into the earth by a perforating gun. Finally, the fracking fluid, which will be described in further detail later in my argument, is injected down into the earth where it cracks open the shale rock and causes the natural gas inside to flow out [1]. D1: ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS1. Air PollutionWhile fracking, and by extension natural gas, is touted for its lack of carbon emmisions, it still can contribute significantly to air pollution. Fracking produces methane, a dangerous greenhouse gas, and approximately 4% of the methane that is created from fracking is released into the atmosphere. Upon first glance this may seem to be far superior to burning of other fossil fuels such as oil and coal, which are infamous for their huge amount of carbon dioxide emissions. However, methane is 25 times more efficient at trapping heat in the atmosphere than carbon dioxide is. Therefore by changing from oil and coal to natural gas, in other words lowering carbon dioxide emissions and increasing methane ones, would not improve the environment in the slightest. However, not just methane is released through the process of fracking. These include benzene, toluene, xylene and ethyl benzene (BTEX), nitrogen oxides, carbon monoxide, formaldehyde and metals contained in diesel fuel combustion. Combine the effects of methane, along with all of these other air pollutants, and it seems that natural gas is not more environmentally friendly than oil and coal after all. 2. Water PollutionWater contamination is the primary concern that is presented with fracking. The most famous situation would be the water that catches on fire after being contaminated by fracking fluid, as shown in the famous movie Gasland. However, before analyzing the effects of fracking on natural water reserves, let us see what the infamous fracking fluid is made up of. The problem with this is that we really do not know what is in the fluid, mainly because the corporations do not want to release that information for fear of angering the public. However some chemicals are known such as Hydrochloric Acid (HCL), Glutaraldehyde, Quaternary Ammonium Chloride, Tetrakis Hydroxymethyl-Phosphonium Sulfate, Isoproponal, and many others [2]. While it is likely that very few people have ever heard of these chemicals (perhaps with the exception of HCL), the effects that they could have on water are mostly self explanatory. True, the purpose of the fracking fluid is not to contaminate the water sources, however due to the fact that there is very little control over where the fluid will go once it is 5,000 feet underground, it is highly possible that it will find its way into water sources anyways. However, fracking fluid is not the sole area for concern in fracking. The fracking also uncovers large amounts of naturally occurring radioactive material, liquid hydrocarbons, brine water and heavy metals. These materials are often left in the earth and they therefore mix into the water sources as well. D2: HEALTH EFFECTS 1. Effects That Fracking Fluid Has on HumansAs shown back in D2: Contention 2, the fracking process causes the fracking fluid to mingle with natural water reserves underground. In 2011 the journal Human and Ecological Risk Assessment discovered that of the 632 known chemicals found in fracking fluid, about 75% of them effect human skin, eyes, and other sensory organs. 40-50% of them could effect the brain and the nervous system, immune and cardiovascular systems, and kidneys. 37% effect the endocrine system (glands that produce hormones [3]). And 25% could cause various cancers and mutations [5]. I feel that there is no further need to analyze this data, and to conclude that fracking has extremely negative effects on both the environment and on human health. SOURCES[1] . http://www.vox.com...[2] . https://fracfocus.org...[3] . http://www.innerbody.com...[4] . http://serc.carleton.edu...