Tennessee Environmental Disaster

[Lily C.]

Maybe some of you have heard about the coal plant that broke down and released heavy metals and orificenic into two rivers in Tennessee. These rivers supply drinking water to many areas in Tennessee. Most likely, the effects of this event will occur many years later, but I was wondering if anyone has treated people who have been affected by the fly ash or sludge in the water (or air?). Do you think the people who live nearby area are at risk of acquiring health problems?

[CHATSDALE]

i have been seeing this on tv, really looks awful..it is a bad thing when you see your life changed in front of your eyes and you feel so helpless

[gardenpartyy]

thankfully i dont live in that part of TN.

im sure within the next 20 years, people in that area will be popping out 8 legged babies with half a nose and no hair.

[tnbutterfly - Mary, BSN]

This is from an article about the disaster.

Environmentalists Friday called it an "historical energy disaster."The dam burst on Monday, releasing an estimated 5.4 million cubic metres of slurry into the Emory River and displacing 12 to 15 families, broadcast and newspaper reports said.

While TVA officials said the spill had not affected drinking water, the Southern Alliance for Clean Energy (SACE) warned of undetermined consequences to water, land, residents and wildlife.

Stephen Smith, SACE's executive director, called for federal environmental officials and the TVA to encourage residents "to avoid bodily contact with the ash." Smith warned that the sludge contained lead and thallium. When the sludge dries, the toxins could become airborne, he warned in a statement on the group's website.

There are multiple pathways in which people can become potentially affected by these heavy metals, including bodily contact, drinking water, air pathways and aquatic wildlife and fish, and we feel that appropriate warnings should be expressed to ensure the safety of Tennessee residents," Smith said.

http://www.earthtimes.org/articles/show/247905,environmentalists-call-tennessee-sludge-spill-a-disaster.html