Local biodiversity is affected by increased levels of pollution

Jul 31, 2012 07:04 GMT  ·  By

A report recently published in the journal Environmental Science and Technology shows that, as a result of relatively intense mining activities in the area, about 25% of Southern West Virginia's streams now contain significant traces of sulfates and other pollutants in their waters.

The study was conducted by scientists working with Duke and Baylor Universities.

As they explain, the concentration of chemical compounds they found in the streams and rivers they analyzed allows these water sources to be qualified as impaired under state criteria.

This means that they pose considerable health threats and, therefore, can no longer be used for drinking, fishing or even swimming.

EurekAlert reports that Emily S. Bernhardt from Duke's Nicholas School of the Environment explained how, “Our findings offer concrete evidence of the cumulative impacts surface mining is having on a regional scale.”

“The relationship is clear and direct. The more mining you have upstream, the higher the biological loss and the salinity levels will be downstream, and the farther they will extend,” she further added.

According to their research, a part of the region's biodiversity has already been lost because of the harmful chemical compounds which found themselves released into the atmosphere over the years.

More precisely, many of the local aquatic insect species suffered a decline in their population, which, in turn, translates into fewer fish being able to find food and, therefore, survive in this region.

Environmental specialist Ryan S. King makes a case of how, “Our analysis shows that coal mining is leading to widespread declines in aquatic biodiversity in Appalachian streams.”

In order to reach these conclusions with respect to present-day water quality in southern West Virginia's streams and rivers, the researchers put together data provided by West Virginia's Department of Environmental Protection and NASA satellite images.

Thus, they were able to determine that, by converting 5% of the land here in mining sites, companies “succeeded” in negatively impacting on as much as 25% of the region surface water sources.

From where we stand, this research only goes to show that the coal industry is something human society must put behind it as soon as possible.