2016 journal article

Assessment of trace element impacts on agricultural use of water from the Dan River following the Eden coal ash release

INTEGRATED ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT AND MANAGEMENT, 12(2), 353–363.

By: D. Hesterberg n , M. Polizzotto n, C. Crozier n & R. Austin n 

co-author countries: United States of America πŸ‡ΊπŸ‡Έ
author keywords: Coal ash; Trace elements; Soil contamination; Rapid assessment; Water quality; Mass-balance calculation
MeSH headings : Agricultural Irrigation; Coal Ash / analysis; Environmental Monitoring; North Carolina; Petroleum Pollution; Soil Pollutants / analysis; Trace Elements / analysis; Virginia
Source: Web Of Science
Added: August 6, 2018

Catastrophic events require rapid, scientifically sound decision making to mitigate impacts on human welfare and the environment. The objective of this study was to analyze potential impacts of coal ash-derived trace elements on agriculture following a 35,000-tonne release of coal ash into the Dan River at the Duke Energy Steam Station in Eden, North Carolina. We performed scenario calculations to assess the potential for excessive trace element loading to soils via irrigation and flooding with Dan River water, uptake of trace elements by crops, and livestock consumption of trace elements via drinking water. Concentrations of 13 trace elements measured in Dan River water samples within 4 km of the release site declined sharply after the release and were equivalent within 5 d to measurements taken upriver. Mass-balance calculations based on estimates of soil trace-element concentrations and the nominal river water concentrations indicated that irrigation or flooding with 25 cm of Dan River water would increase soil concentrations of all trace elements by less than 0.5%. Calculations of potential increases of trace elements in corn grain and silage, fescue, and tobacco leaves suggested that As, Cr, Se, Sr, and V were elements of most concern. Concentrations of trace elements measured in river water following the ash release never exceeded adopted standards for livestock drinking water. Based on our analyses, we present guidelines for safe usage of Dan River water to diminish negative impacts of trace elements on soils and crop production. In general, the approach we describe here may serve as a basis for rapid assessment of environmental and agricultural risks associated with any similar types of releases that arise in the future.