Assessment of trace element impacts on agricultural use of water from the Dan River following the Eden coal ash release. (8th September 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Hesterberg, Dean; Polizzotto, Matthew L; Crozier, Carl; Austin, Robert E
• Is Part Of: Integrated environmental assessment and management. Volume 12:Number 2(2016:Apr.)
• Page Start: 353
• Page End: 363
• Publication Date: 2015-09-08
• Subjects: Coal ash -- Trace elements -- Soil contamination -- Rapid assessment -- Water quality -- Mass‐balance calculation; Environmental management -- Periodicals; Pollution -- Periodicals; Environmental toxicology -- Periodicals; Environmental risk assessment -- Periodicals; Environmental impact analysis -- Periodicals; 628
• DOI: 10.1002/ieam.1669
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1551-3777

Abstract

ABSTRACT: 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. Integr Environ Assess Manag 2016;12:353–363. © 2015 SETAC Key Points: Following a 35, 000‐tonne release of coal ash into the Dan River in North Carolina, total concentrations of 13 trace elements measured in river water within 4 kilometers of the release site declined sharply after the release and were equivalent to measurements taken upriver within 4 days. Trace‐element concentrations in river water exceeded standards for surface water used as a drinking water source in <10% of samples, and no samples exceeded guidelines for cattle drinking water. Irrigation or flooding with 25 cm of river water would increase soil trace‐element concentrations by <0.5%, indicating that river water is now suitable for use as irrigation water, and trace‐element influx during flooding of agricultural areas will have only a marginal impact on soils and crops. Because the mobility and plant‐availability of trace elements is difficult to accurately model on a site‐by‐site basis, a mass‐balance approach provides a means to quickly assess the potential impacts of any future coal‐ash spills or other similar events on agricultural operations.