America's Dirty Secret: Coal Ash

Find more Earth Focus content at www.linktv.org...
(Earth Focus: Episode 64) People in three adjacent Pennsylvania communities suffer from a rare blood cancer. In Juliette, Georgia, where radioactive water flows from the tap, people are also getting sick. What else do these communities have in common? Coal ash. Some 130 million tons of it is generated in the US each year. It contains toxins like lead, arsenic and mercury and it gets into ground water from unlined pond and pit storage sites. The federal government says it's non-hazardous and regulation is left to state governments where the coal industry has great influence. And it's always people who suffer the consequences.
Read Earth Focus correspondent Miles Benson's blog post, "Coal Ash: Both Beneficial and Poisonous?": www.linktv.org...

[@zapfanzapfan]

Why not dump the ash back where it was mined? You have to return the train cars anyway to get more coal, why not just take the ash back with you?

[@waltergwinn9189]

Im pretty sure tim he is saying if we mined it out of a hole and it wasnt poisoning us then why not use the same hole to store it back in... Seems to me thats what they are trying to say

[@dragmit]

@@waltergwinn9189 Except the chemical characteristics have completely changed. If they stacked the coal unburned outside the run off would not be anywhere near as bad as after it is burned. Plus remember most of this stuff is strip mined today. That is not a sage hole to store in.

[@TicklerDude]

Send all of the coal ash to the shithole countries in Africa......problem solved.

[@rajasingammuthusamy959]

@@dragmit Coal mining approval includes a provision for refill or backfill. The company takes a short cut and cut cost.

[@rajasingammuthusamy959]

@Ian Concannon flyash is as good as cement

[@fredwilliamson2225]

The ash would make a great border wall since solar panels don't.

[@applesucks2633]

I plan on burning as much fossil fuel as I possibly can before I die

[@survivor648]

The Last Mountain about blowing up the Appalachian mountains is a really good look into what coal mining does it’s so sad.

[@frankanddanasnyder3272]

Moving to a location next to a major coal power plant is stupid!

[@jacquesblaque7728]

No need to be next to it, downwind or downstream will do "nicely". Cheers!

[@swiftlyvexing6669]

I grew up with a coal Ash pit maybe 200 meters behind my house. I think they were a lot more responsible about it though. They had test wells and water treatment facility. When they closed it up they rolled out thick plastic and buried about 5 meters dirt on top. No cancer yet though!

[@jimdorman1550]

What do these people think happens to their trash, in a landfill?

[@jacquesblaque7728]

Do you understand that most landfills are lined, and do not receive anything like the input of heavy metals that are found in coal ash? Yeah, thinking is hard work, per "W"

[@billcoley8520]

If you people can find a way. You’ll make coal the blame

[@hasijo45]

This is not something that needs a study, it's all there right in your face.

[@SimonKingMusic]

See the video about Tinker Airforce Base

[@Idrinklight44]

The toxic crap will destroy humanity before the weather.....

[@kittybanana9389]

Im from BC Canada and BC doesn't burn coal and has a burning coal ban. BC is all renewable electricity

[@johnk2452]

KB, sorry to read that. It sounds like another one of the MANY PLACES on the globe that has NOT been informed of the full story. Well no surprise, there: that's the way flim-flam men operate; everything is sunny and rosy ... until it is NOT. Be informed: pound-for-pound --- IN THE LONGER RUN --- renewables --- hydro, solar, wind, etc --- will result in GREATER VOLUMES of toxic waste than any of other the higher-density energy sources: Increased hydro dams will result in many more choked rivers and streams, loss of fish species, habitat, forests and etc. 1000s upon 1000s of worn-out toxic-material wind turbines --- they have an average life-span of fewer than 20 years --- are already beginning to overwhelm such legal disposal facilities. Millions upon millions of tons of expired batteries, especially from electric cars, will need to be disposed of, where, even now, for example, in several European locations, car owners are finding it extremely difficult and EXPENSIVE to secure legal disposal locations ... because such batteries are so toxic. Not much solar up there in BC; but, if there was, can you imagine the 1000s of square miles of forests that would need to be destroyed in order to make sufficient space for solar panels? And, the preceding does not even mention the massive number of additional open-pit mines needed to produce the metals --- especially rare earth metals --- needed just to manufacture all the new electric cars and etc ... are hardly even discussed, and, on a national level, for all practical purposes, are not discussed at all Note that regarding such metals: the great majority of these mines are in 3rd world countries where SLAVE LABOR is used for mining and processing. The reason for the above is ENERGY DENSITY; actually, the LACK thereof; where, renewables, compared to coal, nuclear, petroleum, can NOT compete. Renewables are NOT relatively energy-dense. IOW: regarding the TOXIC IMPACT of renewables: YOU AIN'T SEEN NOTHING, YET! Hope that you all enjoy it!

[@pauldeahl3980]

Cuyana2020 Ivan - I could not have said it better myself. All these uninformed people in the comments section screaming to sue the coal companies into bankruptcy are so easily misled. If they simply did a little research with an open mind they will quickly realize that they are being lied to.

[@lucusinfabula]

Fern has large wet root nodules and high ash content frustules and would be better than pine at fixing volatiles. Not sure you can intercrop fern with pine but if you can't then a matter of planting oak or whatever else.

[@spleenforsoul]

When I was a kid we took a school field trip to the local power plant. It ran on coal. I remember they told us not to even touch the stair railings because it was all covered in coal dust. I was out of school for a week after that field trip, I was so sick. I remember not realizing why until I got older. We were given no masks, only hard hats. People who lived around the plant got free car washes because of their cars being covered in coal dust.

[@lunnwhelan946]

I think the power company just turns off electric filter or doesn't has them at all. Coal power plant also must have wet ash catcher and dry ash catcher.

[@andypaniagua1430]

At 2:35 My brothers, sister and I are walking across the street and i find that insane.

[@Preyhawk81]

why dont they extract the heavy metals for industrial use?

[@heresteven]

One coal plant buried its flyash on its site under a concrete slab and hid it from the EPA. It is still in business today.

[@ryanehlis426]

Uranium is not from coal.

[@Jemalacane0]

Wrong! Coal does contain radioactive metals, one of them being uranium.

[@64diveman]

why nobody American people talk about it?

[@jacquesblaque7728]

Would you believe it's not just in the USA? How 'bout UK, Germany (with all their lignite), China, etc, etc.?

[@benavraham4397]

What's happening with coal ash for the last 250 years? It not at all new.

[@daleneparole1502]

"You act like you don't know...As the CANCER slowly grows..."

[@fordnut460]

Id still say we have come leaps and bounds in the coal burning business. When my dad was a kid the air in Pennsylvania was that heavy with it . The snow was black

[@stevenmurdoch6903]

WEEEEEEEEE WHO IS WEEEEE SHILLSTER

[@richardbernier177]

Excellent video! Great info!

[@candybanks8717]

Cement that is used in the oilfield to line well bores to protect ground water is mostly fly ash from coal plants. Once it is mixed and hardens it isn't hazadeous. It's also used to make concrete so all construction is dependent as well. Don't see why they couldn't have Halliburton or Schlumberger bring in the cement pumps and put a cap on these giant mounds, which should be located on a flat or con-caved plateau with a layer of bedrock between the pit and water table. The cement could be mixed with seawater instead of fresh water which would actually set much faster as salt decreases set time. This could put thousands of geologists, miners and oilfield workers back to work and help clean up the industry that everyone who enjoys civilization owes their quality of life to. Just a thought...

[@timdoerksen9893]

Apple cider vinegar & lemon juice will really help fix your liver.

[@ericdebord]

all these chemicals are allready in the coal in the ground.

[@stovillaelohimra4099]

It's the metals being burnt with the coal that are the problem. Not very bright are ya? Even watch the damn video man?

[@abelincolnparth]

With all these natural disasters we need a "concrete block" reserve, just like we have a strategic oil reserve. We need to up the encasement of these heavy metal ash products into concrete blocks and have them stored to help us recover from any disaster. Encasement with high pH products like lime will keep our water resources safe.

[@BernardBouchard-qq9kq]

I live at ground zero of coal largest mine in the word power plants home heat coke ovens put ash on roads red dog driveway slag for construction red water creeks .so we should be the test standard.

[@hasijo45]

We all know that money runs this country, not the politicians.

[@pertechnetyl]

There is no "iron pyrite" (proper name: pyrite) in the Acid Mine Drainage. AMD is a product of pyrite oxidation.

[@ryanehlis426]

Coal ash is a valuable byproduct that we need! Building and industrial products are produced from coal ash.

[@libertarian1536]

I don't see why they can't find a good use for this. Aggregate to make concrete?

[@barrybretz6073]

Our gov needs to hire Robert Murry Smith to find a way to use it for batteries for electric vehicles!!!!!

[@ggem8125]

Let’s go back to living in caves to save the earth. I want to go to the homes of the people in this video and remove the central air conditioner

[@mtadams2009]

That was not the point of the video. We can do better and we are, we can do more. It does take a commitment to improving our world. Coal now produces less than 30 percent of our power, so we are moving forward. Lets be honest we also waste a lot of power. I use very little power, no AC its really not a big deal . We have grown soft.

[@johnoleary7519]

If its like this in America think what it is like in China or India. We know how to run cars on water why not power plants. Good reporting.

[@s.sradon9782]

well it takes power to make hydrogen

[@PopsShack]

That power needn't come from burning coal.

[@tyrred]

Our most abundant power source is the sun. Where did all the coal come from? And where did all the plants that made that coal derive their energy from? How is it that people are still so trapped in their paradigms that they cannot understand that there is a gigantic nuclear fusion power station up above?

[@daveestes942]

takes a lot of electric power to make hydrogen so where does the power come from to make the hydrogen to run the electric plants with hydrogen you don't make any sense at all and need to stop watching youtube videos of those phonies claiming to run their cars on hydrogen or Browns gas

[@COIcultist]

From around 03.00: "Each year it produces three and a half million kilowatts of electricity." Where does one start with this? 3.5 million kilowatts. OK that should be 3.5 GW (Gigawatts) but I understand not everyone comprehends engineering notation (like scientific notation but at every 10 to the power 3 or times 1,000 we give a new prefix.) and people can relate to a 1kW (kilowatt) appliance. "Each year it produces" The Watt (kilowatt, Gigawatts, etc) is not a unit of production (work done) it's a unit of power. 1Watt= 1Joule per second. OK what might they have meant? The most common measurement of electrical work done is the kWh (kilowatt hour) 1kW for 1hour. At full capacity (coal fired power stations run best at full capacity) each of the 4 units at Plant Scherer run at 880MW (Megawatts= 1,000xkW1,000,000Watts) or in total 3,520MW. So one could sort of see where the "three and a half" figure came from but it would then produce the stated "three and a half million kilowatt(s) (hours) in 1 hour not 1year. Except of course it wouldn't. The plant can't constantly run to capacity it has a capacity factor of about 61%. Each year it produces about 19TWh (Terawatt-hours) or 19,000 million kilowatt-hours. If you lack such a basic understanding of physics or at this level just basic science or even the ability to do maths, what does it say for (or do to) the credibility of the rest your film? See: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_largest_power_stations_in_the_United_States

[@jacquesblaque7728]

KISS. Just make clear the distinction between power and energy/work. Avoid the fluff. Energy for a given time internal is integral of power over that interval. Look at a "Kill-A-Watt" to investigate that sort of thing. Power-factor study, a bonus.

[@kgooch69]

I live in the area of Pa they speak of. I use coal to heat my home and I love it. Both my grandfather's were coal miners. In truth most power plants are switching to natural gas anyway.. you don't need the government sticking it's nose in to make it happen. I predict over the next 20 years or so coal plants will be far and few. My opinion is I don't think it's nearly as toxic as being depicted here. Dirty and dusty ?..yah sure..but I'm not sure you want to breath any dust..so what's the solution ?.. People will always be quick to tell you what they think is wrong or bad..but offer no reasonable and dare I say.. affordable solution. Hate on me if you want..but it's nice and warm in my house and I intend to keep it that way.

[@earlofcheeseburger]

wonder if you'll say the same thing as the cancer eats away at your bones

[@Jemalacane0]

Matter doesn't disappear in a chemical reaction, but...

[@johnk2452]

Name a SIGNIFICANT energy source that doesn't have a SIGNIFICANT NEGATIVE IMPACT. [Please don't mention solar, wind and etc]. The answer is NONE. IOW: every significant energy source has such challenges. Renewables, if used on a national scale --- pound for pound --- will produce volumes of toxic waste, dwarfing those of other energy types; the reason being energy density. The only way to prevent such energy-sourced pollution is to prevent USE OF ALL ENERGY SOURCES.

[@Honky_time]

What is the follow up? Are they still operating like this? Now that Trump has smashed the EPA?

[@daveestes942]

first off about this is that its up to the power companies to build the plants that can burn coal safely not up to the coal companies

[@terryakuna66]

Trust nobody! Politics and payoffs! Money rules the world ..... don't think it don't!

[@tshegomokonoto]

Money talks in the end, sue them.

[@martindawson8745]

i live in maryland, i have familey. in. nc..stop the bullshit

[@ryanehlis426]

Chemtrails are making people sick! What the hell are the spraying from the airplanes?

[@andrewradford3953]

Stupifing spray and it's really working!

[@DeBe4604]

Here in Florida , there's ALWAYS black stuff all over. I have to wipe and wipe my porch. We wonder what it is. When I moved in here yrs ago the man next door told me there was black stuff all.over. He didn't know what it was. 24 yrs later its still..here. I've heard some say . the airport, ? Tropicana Orange factory? This is in Gulf coast Fl.

[@dr.shakingmyhead4167]

OMG THIS IS CRAZY WHAT HAVE THIS WORLD COME TOO

[@roysmith3198]

same as it ever was

[@barrybretz6073]

Can any of it be used in tires?

[@s.sradon9782]

why can't you separate these metals from coal ash it seems somewhat profitable

[@PopsShack]

Because the amounts are small enough that it's not financially viable.

[@ashanmendis1930]

why don't pigs fly

[@kennyw871]

Yea, if you have kids in China and India to do it!

[@patrickestonilo8241]

Business as usual.

[@bigmike690smc]

Luckily al gore is here to save you all... :)

[@tyrred]

Luckily you are part of the most irritating group of 'Muricans, and you love being a scourge to your grandchildren. You will be dead, but they will live with your legacy.... But not as long as they should. But please, do go on. Ride that hog of yours. It's loud and irritating and reminds everyone else why you are and should be despised.

[@daveestes942]

and get filthy rich in the meantime from all this hoopla thousands of scientist are now claiming its a hoax for profit

[@TicklerDude]

Manbearpig

[@rewrewd5904]

This is bs fly ash is used in the making of concrete and it’s expensive here in sc they used to place it in the ponds shown in the pictures but now they are digging it up and reprocessing it to sell as a addictive to concrete

[@guillaumegaudin694]

yeah that sounds as good as an idea as putting asbestos in concrete (yes that did happen)... Think future, think demolition, think dust... toxic dust.

[@garycarman1920]

@@guillaumegaudin694 they do use fly ash in concrete. trucks are moving by my house day and night they haul the fly ash from page to las vegas and bring lime back Barney trucking is the compony it isn't hurting any thing it's progress you don't like it move to a undeveloped country.

[@guillaumegaudin694]

Think that some day, your children or your grand children may own a house where such concrete has been used, and they may not be aware that it's not regular concrete, so they would drill or cut through it for some reason and breathe the dust... I know that as long as the ash is trapped in the concrete it's no harm, but it won't be like this forever. In france we used asbestos without any state control until 1996, now it's everywhere and it's costing a lot of money to decontaminate when we want to do make overs. I just think that ash in concrete is a bad idea for the same reason using asbestos in construction material was a bad idea

[@guillaumegaudin694]

after i'm no chemist and don't know for a fact what exactly is in the ash and how it would exactly be released in the case of demolition of this concrete, so prove me wrong if any research has been done, i'd love to see it documented. Just because it should be, information is number one.

[@garycarman1920]

if you breath saw dust from trees im talking about wood its bad if you breath dust from the ground its bad for you if you drink to much water its bad for you it can kill you if your exposed to too much radiation its bad for you by the way the sun produces that carcinogen radiation every thing is bad in high doses there is much more I want to say explain but my old lady is after me at the moment

[@dawnnovak5789]

is this so with coal ash from a heating coal stove ?

[@jacquesblaque7728]

Being that all coal is formed from strata of the same or similar sediments, you should expect similarity. Why would it depend on where/how it was burned?

[@ggem8125]

Like Obama said regulate them out of business

[@dwrldgster3151]

acid lol

[@kentmclellan9508]

mix the coal ash with sand, use it on the roads in the winter time

[@kennyw871]

Yea so the heavy metals can wash off the roads into streams and into the oceans. What's it going to be like when we can no longer harvest fish from streams and oceans, not to mention safe drinking water. I forgot, it's already like that now. Good job corporate America, you're really watching out for us, right? No worries though, scientists will find a way to activate our slime genes as we slither through life.

[@crackcrazy8390]

Why

[@crackcrazy8390]

Why

[@falconeddy254]

Trump says it won't hurt you as he Rams Cash in his pockets

[@daveestes942]

the only President that wont even take a salary and he is cramming cash into his pockets get real and ask the doctor to change your meds

[@okieguy51]

I love coal fired power plants burning American coal.

[@Railfan9743]

michael malone what is wrong with you

[@BetterDeadThanRed99]

Distillation removes even the radioactive contamination. Tips for life.

[@tshegomokonoto]

Nice... someone mentions fly ash. So why is there so much waste being dumped?

[@James-gz6iq]

With coal ash, we could build cheap safe concrete housing for homeless people. I hope those residents get RO water, or some water filtration system.

[@dwrldgster3151]

move The world can't stop for you

[@lucusinfabula]

need to improve the process

[@pertechnetyl]

Arsenic is not a heavy metal. It is a semi-metal.

[@dwrldgster3151]

they passed away because they were old

[@tyrred]

Sure, people only die of old age. Cool story, bro.

[@martindawson8745]

please .sue, these big corp;

[@davefoc]

The Trump EPA is going to jump right on that.

[@michaelbest7872]

Coal ash! Asbestos, Nuclear waste - all harmful ! Now it's Sept. 2018 and a hurricane just went thru the Carolina's and one problem in the water is Coal Ash ! Then this documentary says coal ASH is burned for fuel !!! We as humans have much to learn, as we are STILL hurting each other, for ease and happiness in the short term, even in a non-purposeful way. Stubbornness, resistance to change, and selfishness are also problems.

[@ExposedRoot]

I hate to be the one to start injecting this name but I bet most if not all the people living in these areas voted for Donald Trump. The easing and dismissal of president Obamas Regulation have been mind numbing.

[@DaveTheSCRIBE]

I have defeated PolyCythemia Vera. NO it is not easy, mainly due to people being stubborn and not able to conceive of remedy.. look. Just cuz ama failed you...we do not CANNABINOID-neuro INSTITUTE