Duke Study: Well Water Contaminent Comes From Nature, Not Coal Ash Print
State Government
By Administrator   
Thursday, 27 October 2016 15:28
Hexavalent chromium found in well water is naturally occurring and not from nearby coal ash ponds according to a Duke researcher.
 
It was initially believed the cancer-causing toxin was coming from coal ash ponds. But Duke professor Avner Vengosh said his new study shows the dangerous compound is naturally occurring across the state. Hexavalent chromium, also known as chromium-6, is a carcinogen made famous by the Erin Brockovich case. The heavy metal has been linked to myriad health problems, including cancer.
 
Vengosh said his team found the toxin in wells many miles from coal ash pits, and that the technology researchers used allowed them to trace it to the natural geology of the Piedmont.
Last Updated on Thursday, 27 October 2016 15:43