Which environmental concerns are associated with hydraulic fracturing (fracking)?

• A. Ocean acidification from CO2 releases.
• B. Deforestation due to extraction.
• C. Air pollution from processing.
• D. Methane leaks and induced seismic activity.

Answer: (D)

Fracking mainly raises two environmental issues tied directly to the process: methane leaks and induced seismic activity. When natural gas is brought to the surface, methane can escape from wells, equipment, or during handling and transport. Methane is a potent greenhouse gas, so even small leaks can have a big impact on climate forcing. At the same time, the large amounts of wastewater produced by fracturing operations are often injected deep underground. This can raise underground pressures and reactivate faults, leading to earthquakes—an effect known as induced seismicity.

The other options don’t capture these fracking-specific risks as clearly. Ocean acidification from CO2 releases is a broad consequence of burning fossil fuels in general, not unique to fracking. Deforestation can occur in some extraction contexts but isn’t a defining, universal consequence of fracking. Air pollution from processing happens, but the standout environmental concerns most closely linked to fracking are methane leaks and induced seismic activity.