It is common knowledge that water is essential for survival. In our technologically advanced first world country, the majority of today’s population would think that clean drinking water would be accessible to everyone in the United States. Recent news reports of environmental health crises have given us cause for concern with respect to fundamental resources such as water, which comprises 60% of the human body. Environmental water testing has established that chemicals are leaching into natural reservoirs, poisoning our drinking water, and harming ones we love. An area of geographical significance that is being affected by water contamination is our neighbor, North Carolina. Reports of cancers and other serious illnesses are being linked to the contaminated water from a Duke Energy coal ash spill. Residents are unknowingly being exposed to these contaminants and have been for years. It is time for people to recognize the risk of harm and consequent health problems that can arise, learn how to protect themselves and their families, and understand the legislative action that is being taken to contain and stop these environmental issues. Are there consequences for chemical spills in the environment and what are the next steps for those affected? Sounds like another Erin Brokovich? It’s true! Many residents in affected areas are aware of the coal ash spill, and have reported their concerns. But to what end? Governmental agencies claim to be working toward a resolution but their efforts remain to be seen.

As mentioned, the Duke Energy coal ash spill has been a key player in North Carolina’s water contamination; however, offenders are not limited to coal ash. In a study conducted in 2016 on water well contaminants in North Carolina, Escherichia coli and fecal indicator bacteria were among those listed (Defelice) What effect do these bacteria have on those that drink from these wells, you ask? Acute gastrointestinal illnesses (AGI) have been reported in areas that have contaminants in their water supply. According to a survey conducted by Ethan Goemann of the United States District Court, “29,200 annual ED visits for AGI  costing $39.9 million are potentially attributable to contamination of private wells” and “expanding regulated water services has the potential for substantial health benefits”. Samples from various wells across several state regions were tested and results of chemical levels were compared in order to track and detect waterborne illnesses. In Flint, Michigan, residents were told to boil their water before consuming or using the water (Keating). With the knowledge that chemicals are being inadvertently leached into water major supplies, it is pertinent that extreme measures be taken to identify and prevent the spread of cancers and diseases. Certain chemicals are linked directly to cancers including lung and bladder. Regan Murray of the US Environmental Protection Agency wrote an article in 2009 which indicated “295 cancer cases in 2010 were potentially attributable to the 20 regulated chemicals in drinking water that are carcinogenic, occur in North Carolina community water supplies, and have sufficient dose-response data available to support a risk assessment”. The importance and urgency of the clean-up process for this spill, is growing exponentially. Unfortunately, the water contamination epidemic is not limited to North Carolina and is an issue millions face around the globe. For some this is a life or death situation if the problem is not resolved. According to the Institute of Medicine, it is recommended to consume 9 cups of water per day  for women and 13 cups per day for men. With reports of high levels of chemicals seeping into the water supply, it is no surprise that health hazards are on the rise. Obesity continues to be a growing issue for many across the world and research is showing that certain chemicals in water supplies may be (partly) to blame for that. Hormone levels in adolescents reportedly fluctuate on an abnormal scale and this too may be a result of contaminant ingestion. Cancer diagnoses are increasing each year and it is no coincidence that areas with high contaminant levels have high cancer rates compared to those without. The types of cancers in affected areas are not limited to lung and bladder. At Carolina’s Medical Center in Charlotte, North Carolina oncologists are seeing an increased incidence of multiple myeloma also known as, Khaler’s Disease. Multiple myeloma is cancer of the blood plasma cells. Several patients, who also happen to be residents of the same subdivision located near the Dan River, have been diagnosed with this rare cancer type in the past few years. According to the American Cancer Society, in 2014 there were 53, 576 cases of cancer diagnosed in North Carolina (864 cases of them were multiple myeloma). The medical community is acutely aware of the commonality of disease in the same area, but they can only treat it, not report it…. 

The Duke Energy coal ash spill in the Dan River has spread as wide as 70 miles, affecting thousands of men, women, and children. As defined by Physicians for Social Responsibility, coal ash is “waste material left after coal is burned” and contains “toxic chemicals that cause cancer, developmental disorders, and reproductive problems.” While many tests can be performed to identify its presence, there is currently no procedure for how to utilize this information in order to benefit health. According to Goemann, substantial legislative action is being taken into account for the spill in the Dan River. The February 2014 spill released 39,000 tons (roughly) of coal ash into the river. This sent “millions of gallons of sludge from a retired power plant into a river that supplies drinking water to communities in North Carolina and neighboring Virginia” (Goemann). This massive spill was responsible for the  Coal Ash Management Act (CAMA) of 2014. The act was not only created in response to the Dan River spill but also to address the groundwater contamination that is prevalent in neighboring areas. Contaminated groundwater can cause many diseases and is extremely harmful considering half of the water in the United States is derived from groundwater. Coal ash is one of the largest contaminants because coal is such a widely utilized resource. In North Carolina alone there are approximately 107.9 million tons of coal ash deposited in 32 coal ash ponds run by Duke Energy. These coal ash ponds are operated as such to act as a place for “safe” disposal of coal ash near the energy plants. In Goemann’s article, he states that it will cost over $300 million and will take many years to clean up the Dan River Spill. There is always a risk when dealing with harmful chemicals, especially when they can affect something as essential as water. Chemicals comprising coal ash to name just a few, include arsenic, lead, mercury, selenium, aluminum, barium, boron, and chlorine. In 2009, data from the Environmental Protection Agency  (EPA) showed that people living near the coal ash ponds have a 1 in 50 chance of being diagnosed with cancer.  This greatly exceeds what is  considered an acceptable measurement by the EPA. This particular coal ash spill initially occurred in February of 2014 and has yet to be resolved. With the high amounts of coal ash that remain in the Dan River today, it will be a challenging feat to eliminate the contaminants completely. The CAMA was established in 2014 to protect groundwater from the coal ash ponds, to ensure public health safety from hazardous chemicals, and to be a sort of model for other states with water contamination problems; however, in November of 2014 the coal ash ponds that were created to hold the harmful waste began leaking into another water source, the Yadkin River. An analysis of this river was performed with the following results: levels of cadmium and arsenic were eight and three times, respectively, above the North Carolina maximum for what is considered safe for ingestion. 
