Tuesday, September 15, 2009

Toxic Water: Coal in the Water

. Tuesday, September 15, 2009

Would you drink this water? This is a water sample from a house in Prenter, WV.



I think that the media gives too much attention to the "evils" of foreign oil and nuclear power. The horrible effects of coal is the real story. About half of this country's electricity is generated by a coal-fired power plant. It makes me sick when I hear commercials talking about "clean coal". I get pissed off when I hear President Obama talk about "clean coal" too. I hope that when the whole health care legislation is over and done with and he moves on to climate change that he emphasizes clean and renewable sources of energy such as solar and wind. Heck, I'm even in favor nuclear power. It's a lot less detrimental to the environment that coal is. It looks like the EPA is starting to crack down on mountain top removal (a travesty in its own right) and .

Here's a video from the NY Times about the effects coal is having on one West Virginia family.

Seven-year-old Ryan Massey, of Prenter, West Virginia, smiled back with capped teeth, the enamel devoured by toxic tap water. His brother sported scabs and rashes, courtesy of the heavy metals—including lead, nickel—in their bath water. Tests show that their tap water contains arsenic, barium, lead, manganese and other chemicals at concentrations federal regulators say could contribute to cancer and damage the kidneys and nervous system.”



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