Coal Waste At Closed PA Power Plant Pegs Groundwater Arsenic @ 372X EPA Maximum Safety Threshold

[hatrack]

The site of a former coal-fired power plant northwest of Pittsburgh is leaking coal ash and poisoning surrounding groundwater, according to a new report. Coal ash, the material left behind after coal is burned, contains harmful substances like arsenic, cadmium, chromium, lead, lithium, mercury and uranium, among others. Exposure is linked to health effects like cancer, damage to the thyroid, liver and kidneys, and neurodevelopmental problems in children.

Although coal consumption has declined across the U.S., the power industry continues to generate about 70 million tons of coal ash annually, and after 100 years of burning coal, U.S. power plants have generated about five billion tons of coal ash. The new report, published by the environmental law advocacy groups Environmental Integrity Project and EarthJustice, found that 91% of U.S. coal-fired plants have ash landfills or waste ponds that are leaking toxic chemicals and heavy metals into surrounding groundwater at levels that threaten streams, rivers and drinking water aquifers. It also found that many coal plant owners manipulate data or incorrectly claim exemptions to regulations to avoid having to clean up contamination.

“Coal plants are polluting the nation’s water illegally and getting away with it,” Lisa Evans, a senior attorney at Earthjustice and coauthor of the report, said during a news briefing. “At least 91% of them are poisoning our water with hazardous toxics and doing little or nothing to address it. This is illegal.” The report ranks the top 10 worst contaminated coal ash sites in the country. GenOn’s New Castle Generating Plant, about 46 miles northwest of Pittsburgh, ranks sixth on the list. Groundwater near the site contains arsenic levels 372 times higher than the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s, or EPA’s, safety threshold, and lithium levels 54 times higher.

Arsenic exposure is linked to multiple forms of cancer, neurological impairments in children and skin conditions. Lithium exposure is linked to kidney and neurological damage, decreased thyroid function and birth defects. The GenOn plant sits along the Beaver River, which feeds into the Ohio River, which, in turn, provides drinking water to more than five million people.

EDIT

https://www.dailyclimate.org/toxic-coal-ash-2658620971.html

[Docreed2003]

1. A purely anecdotal observation

I realize that my experience is purely anecdotal, but I really wish someone would commission a Public Health Environmental study for the area I live. There is a large TVA steamplant which at one time was the second largest coal fired plant in the US located right on the river in the town where I work. It's well known that coal ash has seeped into the water table near that facility. Additionally, I can say in my practice I have seen more weird cancers since coming back here than I have ever seen in my career; things that are legitimately reportable in medical journals they are so strange. It would be worthy of an environmental study in my mind to see if this connection is related.

[cyclonefence]

2. "Clean Coal"

[hatrack]

3. "Sustainable Growth"; "Carbon Offsets"; "Net-Zero"; "Carbon Capture"