| In a perfect world the planet's energy source | | | | ash."o Two types of fly ash exist: Class F and |
| would be generated from an infinite or renewable | | | | Class C, usually referred to as fly ash and bottom |
| source not a finite source, and its by-product | | | | ash respectively.o Bottom ash is used as |
| would have beneficial reuses rather than have | | | | aggregate in road construction and building |
| harmful effects to human or environmental health. | | | | foundations.o Fly ash is used in supplementing the |
| However, the world is not perfect, nor is nuclear | | | | creation of concrete and as filler in asphalt. |
| or coal power energy. Though much research is | | | | Coal Ash and Drinking Water |
| going into other renewable sources of energy, | | | | Bizhan Sheikholeslami, an environmental engineer |
| neither coal nor nuclear plant technologies will likely | | | | who specializes in fly ash regulations with the |
| go away any time soon given the vast | | | | Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, said |
| infrastructure already in place for these | | | | that the quality of the coal and the type of |
| technologies and the capital investment involved. | | | | coal-fired boiler used in the process will determine |
| Thus, environmental policy and priorities should | | | | the quality and waste characterization of the fly |
| rate coal and nuclear power with respect to the | | | | ash. In general, however, he professes that after |
| damages each causes to the environment, to | | | | water leachate tests are performed on bottom |
| human health, and to the future security of ones | | | | ash only trace levels of barium, boron, iron, and |
| surroundings. The by-product of an energy source | | | | magnesium were detected from two local boilers |
| and the threats it poses to ones security is the | | | | and were well within drinking water standards. |
| linchpin in rating the difference between coal and | | | | Fly ash has more metals than bottom ash |
| nuclear energy plants. | | | | however. Bizhan's report on fly ash revealed high |
| The recent spill of coal ash from the Tennessee | | | | levels of metals but significantly lower levels of |
| Valley Authority's (TVA) coal fired plant that | | | | metals after the leachate test was performed. |
| impacted 300 acres and the Tennessee River on | | | | Levels of aluminum, barium, boron, and |
| December 22nd is a case in point that has many | | | | molybdenum were detected that exceeded |
| questioning the credibility and application of coal | | | | drinking water standards in one particular case he |
| fired plants in the United States. Green Peace | | | | posed. Therefore, water treatment plants must |
| recently cited that coal ash is a hazardous and | | | | be cognizant of these threats in Tennessee and |
| toxic waste and sensationalized and distorted the | | | | should take extra care in making sure these |
| facts about this spill. Let us get the facts straight | | | | metals are removed from drinking source. |
| about coal ash. | | | | Coal Ash and the Environment |
| Although coal ash has metals and organics that at | | | | Storing fly ash next to a sensitive natural |
| specific levels could be classified as hazardous, | | | | environment, such as a river, is not a sustainable |
| coal ash however, is not classified as a hazardous | | | | environmental choice and the risks associated with |
| or toxic waste stream. The reason for this is that | | | | such should be measured. The aftermath of a |
| coal ash, commonly referred to as fly ash or | | | | coal ash spill and the impacts that large quantity |
| bottom ash, is predominately made up of calcium, | | | | spills have on the environment have some |
| which has a binding capacity. When mixed with | | | | implications to the benthos community or the |
| water, the metals that leach from fly ash are | | | | bottom of the water body where invertebrates |
| nearly insignificant because the calcium locks or | | | | and aquatic food sources are for smaller fish such |
| binds the metals in place in large part preventing | | | | as minnows. Minnows are food sources to larger |
| the metals from being free floating or suspended | | | | fish and some concern may develop over time |
| particles that could otherwise be harmful to | | | | regarding the increase of metals in the food chain. |
| aquatic and human health. | | | | Coal Ash Spill Compared to Nuclear Spill |
| Leachate tests are performed on waste streams | | | | When comparing updated coal fired plants spills to |
| to determine how harmful or hazardous a waste | | | | the disaster of a nuclear plant spill the differences |
| stream can be. An EPA test called Toxicity | | | | are diabolically on opposite ends of the risk |
| Characteristic Leaching Procedure (TCLP) is a test | | | | spectrum. The TVA coal ash spill impacted 300 |
| used to characterize waste streams as hazardous | | | | acres and no obvious deaths of aquatic life, at |
| or non-hazardous and determines the potential of | | | | least not yet, and some concerns regarding |
| a waste stream to leach into the ground water. | | | | drinking water, but nothing that cannot be treated. |
| Coal ash, because of its binding capacity, is clearly | | | | On the other hand, the failure of one nuclear |
| not a hazardous or toxic waste because the | | | | reactor, namely the Chernobyl disaster, resulted in |
| metals do not leach into the water table at levels | | | | a plume of radioactive particulate to traverse |
| that pose a threat to human and environmental | | | | over western Soviet Union, Europe, and parts of |
| health. | | | | eastern North America, which was 400 times |
| Facts about Coal Asho Coal ash is not a | | | | larger than the Hiroshima fallout. The number of |
| hazardous or toxic waste.o Coal ash is partly | | | | people highly exposed reached 600,000, 4000 of |
| comprised of lime and when mixed with water | | | | which were estimated deaths due to cancer that |
| acts as a binding material and is used in making | | | | followed. The Chernobyl Exclusion Zone, 23 years |
| concrete.o Coal ash is usually referred to as "fly | | | | later is still off limits to people. |