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The Department of Environmental Protection released what they said is the complete list of chemicals used in the hydraulic fracturing process.
However, the list released recently by the DEP includes all chemicals that would be present at a well site, including ones that are not involved in the hydraulic fracking process.
“We’re working on getting it down to just the fracking chemicals,” DEP spokesman Tom Rathbun said.
The list contains chemicals used not only for the underground fracking process, but also chemicals which make up products such as de-greasers and equipment cleaning products.
The chemicals on the list were compiled by DEP officials from Material Safety Data Sheets.
Chemicals are used in the fracking process to break up the shale 5,000-8,000 feet below the surface, which allows for gas trapped in the rock to flow to the surface well.
Environmentalists worry that the fracking fluid, which contains poisonous acids among other chemicals, will seep into underground aquifers and contaminate drinking-water wells. However, department officials say they know of no examples in Pennsylvania or elsewhere.
Industry officials say the chemicals are heavily diluted by water, accounting for less than one percent of the fluid which is blasted underground.
Among the chemicals on the list are naphthalene, toluene and xylene — although various industry representatives said this week that they are not aware of the chemicals' use in drilling.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency classifies naphthalene as a possible human carcinogen. Toluene and xylene are linked by the federal government to central nervous system depression.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
The Department of Environmental Protection released what they said is the complete list of chemicals used in the hydraulic fracturing process.
However, the list released recently by the DEP includes all chemicals that would be present at a well site, including ones that are not involved in the hydraulic fracking process.
“We’re working on getting it down to just the fracking chemicals,” DEP spokesman Tom Rathbun said.
The list contains chemicals used not only for the underground fracking process, but also chemicals which make up products such as de-greasers and equipment cleaning products.
The chemicals on the list were compiled by DEP officials from Material Safety Data Sheets.
Chemicals are used in the fracking process to break up the shale 5,000-8,000 feet below the surface, which allows for gas trapped in the rock to flow to the surface well.
Environmentalists worry that the fracking fluid, which contains poisonous acids among other chemicals, will seep into underground aquifers and contaminate drinking-water wells. However, department officials say they know of no examples in Pennsylvania or elsewhere.
Industry officials say the chemicals are heavily diluted by water, accounting for less than one percent of the fluid which is blasted underground.
Among the chemicals on the list are naphthalene, toluene and xylene — although various industry representatives said this week that they are not aware of the chemicals' use in drilling.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency classifies naphthalene as a possible human carcinogen. Toluene and xylene are linked by the federal government to central nervous system depression.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
