http://www.nytimes.com/2014/02/26/us/nuclear-waste-repository-set-to-reopen-after-leak.html?ref=science&_r=0
A salt mine in New Mexico was used as to bury nuclear bomb wastes. On February 14, an air monitor sensed that there was radioactive contamination, however the ventilation system is actually believed to have 99.97% of the contamination, so monitors have told local residents that there is no health risk. There was only believed to be a very small release of radiation. The incident happened only a few days after a truck caught on fire in the mine, although the events were told to be unrelated. This mine takes nuclear wastes from many companies/areas including nuclear weapon companies. The mine has been functioning to hold nuclear wastes for 15 years without any major incidents, and some feel that the mine could store even more nuclear waste.
Wednesday, February 26, 2014
Thursday, February 13, 2014
More contaminant troubles for West Virginia
http://www.enn.com/wildlife/article/47039
Just a month after the chemical spill into the rivers of West Virginia, a lot of coal(more than 100,000 gallons) poured into a stream. Much of the stream turned black, and there were even traces of the coal in the Kanawha River. The spill occurred as a result of a malfunctioning valve. The coal spilled was coal slurry which is a waste fluid produced by washing coal with water and chemicals prior to shipping the coal to market. It contains a variety of substances that are likely more toxic than heavy metals, like iron, manganese, aluminum and selenium. Not only did the Patriot Coal valve fail, the alarm system also failed as the spill began to occur between 2:30 and 5:30 AM however it wasn't reported until 7:40 AM.
Just a month after the chemical spill into the rivers of West Virginia, a lot of coal(more than 100,000 gallons) poured into a stream. Much of the stream turned black, and there were even traces of the coal in the Kanawha River. The spill occurred as a result of a malfunctioning valve. The coal spilled was coal slurry which is a waste fluid produced by washing coal with water and chemicals prior to shipping the coal to market. It contains a variety of substances that are likely more toxic than heavy metals, like iron, manganese, aluminum and selenium. Not only did the Patriot Coal valve fail, the alarm system also failed as the spill began to occur between 2:30 and 5:30 AM however it wasn't reported until 7:40 AM.
Wednesday, February 5, 2014
Poland Hosts Climate Talks, While Boosting Coal Industry
http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/energy/2013/11/131119-poland-hosts-climate-talks-and-coal-summit/
Environmental Advocates have recently been enraged by Polands decision to invite Coal Industry leaders to discuss the future of coal in future global energy use, while at the same time Poland was 1 of the 194 countries that was meeting to discuss an international treaty to address climate change. Poland is almost completely reliant on coal for energy, as coal produces 80% of its electricity. Coal plays a crucial role in energy production for a lot of the EU now and in the future, however it has devastating impacts on the environment. One of the negative impacts from the coal is that it creates a noxious air quality in Poland, "the second worst air quality in all of the European Union". This air pollution is so horrible that "Simply by living and breathing in Krakow for a year, a resident inhales as much benzopyrene, a highly carcinogenic pollutant, as he or she would from smoking 2,500 cigarettes." Overall, coal provides a lot of energy for Poland, however it proves problematic for the people's health, and influences climate change.
Environmental Advocates have recently been enraged by Polands decision to invite Coal Industry leaders to discuss the future of coal in future global energy use, while at the same time Poland was 1 of the 194 countries that was meeting to discuss an international treaty to address climate change. Poland is almost completely reliant on coal for energy, as coal produces 80% of its electricity. Coal plays a crucial role in energy production for a lot of the EU now and in the future, however it has devastating impacts on the environment. One of the negative impacts from the coal is that it creates a noxious air quality in Poland, "the second worst air quality in all of the European Union". This air pollution is so horrible that "Simply by living and breathing in Krakow for a year, a resident inhales as much benzopyrene, a highly carcinogenic pollutant, as he or she would from smoking 2,500 cigarettes." Overall, coal provides a lot of energy for Poland, however it proves problematic for the people's health, and influences climate change.
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