Fracking is a major issue in many environmental justice debates. Fracking is the process of using chemically altered water and sludge mixtures to drill into cracks deep underground and extract oil and natural gas. While fracking is efficient at extracting petroleum products, it can be extremely damaging to the environment and human health. Fracking waste can seep into the ground and pollute important water sources, potentially poisoning the people who rely on groundwater for drinking and leading to increases in cancer rates and other chronic illnesses. Additionally, many fracking sites are placed in rural, working class towns in the Midwest where water sources are already polluted, further challenging strained economies and local healthcare networks.