Congrats EPA, You Turned a River into Carrot Juice

by Kim D.

#BREAKING: EPA: Pollution from Gold King Mine spill much worse than feared http://t.co/GTSovhbmSR pic.twitter.com/XW8jBsnK76

— azcentral (@azcentral) August 10, 2015

Yes, what that guy is holding in his hand looks like carrot juice but it's not. Last week the Environmental Protection Agency accidentally contaminated the Animas River with a spill containing iron, zinc, and copper. Now businesses who rely on the river (i.e. rafting companies) are suffering as well as the wildlife, especially the fish which are living in the orange metallic murky waters. More importantly, humans might be affected by possible water contamination.

According to preliminary testing data the EPA released Sunday, arsenic levels in the Durango area of the Animas River were, at their peak, 300 times the normal level, and lead was 3,500 times the normal level. Officials said those levels have dropped significantly since the plume moved through the area.

Both metals pose a significant danger to humans at high levels of concentration.

"Yes, those numbers are high and they seem scary," said Deborah McKean, chief of the Region 8 Toxicology and Human Health and Risk Assessment. "But it's not just a matter of toxicity of the chemicals, it's a matter of exposure."