Final answer:
The main environmental and safety problems of oil and natural gas extraction include environmental damage, transportation accidents, and air and water pollution.
Step-by-step explanation:
The main environmental and safety problems of oil and natural gas extraction include:
- Environmental damage: Oil spills from tankers and well failures can contaminate marine ecosystems and coat beaches and wildlife in oil. Coal extraction can leave mountaintops cleared and pollute water sources. Fracking can contaminate groundwater and release methane, a potent greenhouse gas.
- Transportation accidents: The transportation of fossil fuels by pipeline, tankers, rail, or trucks can lead to accidents, leakage, and spills, which can harm the environment and cause pollution.
- Air and water pollution: Processing petroleum, gas, and coal can generate emissions and waste, and energy production at power plants can result in air and water pollution.