The toxicity level of coal ash is similar to that of dirt.  This is the claim made by American Coal Ash Association member Mike McDonald in a news story posted at ajc.

The fear of toxic levels of metal in the coal ash sludge that blanketed the area near the Kingston Fossil Plant is unfounded.  At least this is what we infer from Mike Sutton, who is in charge of the marketing group for Tennessee Valley Authority's coal byproducts.  Clearly Mr. Sutton should be familiar with the composition of the ash, even moreso since his company has sold coal byproducts for about twenty years.

Mr. Sutton contends that the component metals are aluminum compounds, which comprise about 20% of the ash, and sulfur and iron, which combine to form another 10%.  His reference to these as "trace metals" suggests that these percentages are negligible.

In scientific terminology, it is generally accepted that "trace amounts" are extremely small but detectable amounts that cannot be quantified.  We aren't math majors, but it appears to us that 20% and 10% both attest to the quantifiability of these metals in coal ash.

How toxic are these metals?  Iron is often considered beneficial and is found as an additive in many foods including cereals and multivitamins.  Sulfur is a common ingredient in chemical food additives.  Aluminum is Earth's most plentiful metal and can be found in our air, water, and soil.

So what is the problem?  Simply this:  All metals are toxic if a large enough amount is ingested.  Does the coal ash that permeated the ground and the water in Tennessee breach these toxic levels?  20% seems pretty significant to us.

It is interesting to note that the West Virginia DEP has "questions" and "concerns" regarding the composition of coal ash.  It has not been able to present this data to the West Virginia legislature despite missed deadlines and pressure from the lawmakers.  Read our post about it here.

In the ongoing saga of coal ash impoundments a new bill would impose federal standards on coal ash storage.  The bill, introduced by Nick J. Rahall, intends to guarantee the integrity of the impoundments.

Read the story at the Tennessean.com.

At least that is what Rachel Maddow claimed on her MSNBC show two weeks ago.