"Tons of coal ash spill into North Carolina river"

[bobabode]

"Tens of thousands of tons of coal ash have spilled into the Dan River from a closed North Carolina coal plant since Sunday, but drinking water supplies have not been affected, according to municipal officials and the plant's owner, Duke Energy."
"Between 50,000 and 82,000 tons of ash have poured into the Dan River, which flows between North Carolina and Virginia, Duke Energy said. Corporate officials, who blamed a broken storm water pipe, said Tuesday that the utility was still working to stop the leak at the Dan River Steam Station in Eden, N.C."



http://www.latimes.com/nation/la-na-...#ixzz2sTKr2Lai

[CarlV]

according to municipal officials and the plant's owner, Duke Energy.

Yessir, paid off officials and Duke Energy wouldn't lie about such a thing.

The Hazards of Coal Ash

Living near a wet coal ash storage pond is significantly more dangerous than smoking a pack of cigarettes a day, according to a risk assessment done by the EPA. The toxins found in coal ash have been linked to organ disease, cancer, respiratory illness, neurological damage, and developmental problems. People living within 1 mile of unlined coal ash ponds can have a 1 in 50 risk of cancer—more than 2,000 times higher than what the EPA considers acceptable.

Coal ash contains arsenic, lead, mercury, and selenium, as well as aluminum, barium, boron, and chlorine. All can be toxic. Particularly where there is prolonged exposure, these toxins can cause cancer, heart damage, lung disease, respiratory distress, kidney disease, reproductive problems, gastrointestinal illness, birth defects, impaired bone growth in children, and behavioral problems. In short, coal ash toxics have the potential to injure all of the major organ systems in adults (including pregnant women) and children alike.

Exposure to toxic coal ash can lower birth rates, cause tissue disease, slow development and even kill plants and animals, leading to changes in wildlife concentrations and disruptions in entire ecosystems. The toxic pollution from coal ash builds up in exposed animals and plants, causing the pollution to make its way up the food chain when they are eaten. Children are more susceptible to the health impacts of coal ash—and according to the EPA, 1.54 million children live near coal ash storage sites. Not only is coal ash toxic, it is likely to grow increasingly dangerous.

http://content.sierraclub.org/coal/disposal-ash-waste


Carl

[finnbow]

Yep, it's chock full of heavy metals.

[BlueStreak]

Oh, Geez. My apologies go out to Duke Energy.

It's not their fault God put that stupid river in their way.

Dave

[MrPots]

Originally Posted by CarlV

Yessir, paid off officials and Duke Energy wouldn't lie about such a thing.

The Hazards of Coal Ash

Living near a wet coal ash storage pond is significantly more dangerous than smoking a pack of cigarettes a day, according to a risk assessment done by the EPA. The toxins found in coal ash have been linked to organ disease, cancer, respiratory illness, neurological damage, and developmental problems. People living within 1 mile of unlined coal ash ponds can have a 1 in 50 risk of cancer—more than 2,000 times higher than what the EPA considers acceptable.

Coal ash contains arsenic, lead, mercury, and selenium, as well as aluminum, barium, boron, and chlorine. All can be toxic. Particularly where there is prolonged exposure, these toxins can cause cancer, heart damage, lung disease, respiratory distress, kidney disease, reproductive problems, gastrointestinal illness, birth defects, impaired bone growth in children, and behavioral problems. In short, coal ash toxics have the potential to injure all of the major organ systems in adults (including pregnant women) and children alike.

Exposure to toxic coal ash can lower birth rates, cause tissue disease, slow development and even kill plants and animals, leading to changes in wildlife concentrations and disruptions in entire ecosystems. The toxic pollution from coal ash builds up in exposed animals and plants, causing the pollution to make its way up the food chain when they are eaten. Children are more susceptible to the health impacts of coal ash—and according to the EPA, 1.54 million children live near coal ash storage sites. Not only is coal ash toxic, it is likely to grow increasingly dangerous.
Carl

What I find incredulous is the CPSC strictly monitors these chemicals in children's toys, but has no problem with children living near these ash pits.

Why bother?

[finnbow]

Originally Posted by MrPots

What I find incredulous is the CPSC strictly monitors these chemicals in children's toys, but has no problem with children living near these ash pits.

Why bother?

It's a dead certainty that little kids will put toys in their mouths. It ain't a dead certainty that they'll jump the fence and snort a line of coal ash though.

[MrPots]

Merely being in the proximity of the ash ponds is hazardous. They don't have to snort the stuff

That first line, did you read it? Would you allow your kid to smoke a pack a day?

And with 1.5 million kids living near these things....