human
I've heard a lot of negative things about the fracking industry. What is it and what are the potential risks?
assistant
Fracking is a technique used to extract oil and natural gas from shale rock formations. It involves drilling deep into the ground, then pumping a mixture of water, sand, and chemicals into the wellbore to break apart the rock and release the oil and gas. The process can cause earthquakes, contaminate groundwater, and pollute the air with toxic chemicals. There have also been concerns that it could lead to an increase in greenhouse gas emissions.