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Geological Survey Publishes Map and Circular on Cadmium in Groundwater
Lexington, KY (September 13, 2005) -- In an ongoing program to compile groundwater-quality information and make it available to the public, the Kentucky Geological Survey at the University of Kentucky has released a new Information Circular on the occurrence of the metal cadmium in groundwater across the state.
Cadmium is released by the burning of coal and other fossil fuels, and it is a by-product of metals industries. It is considered a probable cause of cancer, and acute exposure to cadmium can cause a variety of illnesses in humans.
The new KGS publication, Groundwater Quality in Kentucky: Cadmium , compiles over 5500 groundwater analyses from 1186 wells and springs across the state. The sampling data is kept in the Kentucky Groundwater Data Repository, set up by a 1990 state law to archive and disseminate groundwater quality data collected by various state agencies.
Only 3.5 percent of the sites tested had groundwater samples with cadmium concentrations above the U.S. EPA's maximum contaminant level for drinking water, and only 1 percent showed concentration levels above the EPA health advisory level for children.
Elevated cadmium concentrations might be expected in western and eastern Kentucky , where the mining of fluorspar and coal could release cadmium into the environment. But the new circular, which plots the sampling sites on a map, notes that the sites with cadmium levels above the EPA levels are not concentrated in those or any other particular areas of the state.
“Because about one-fourth of Kentucky's population relies partially or entirely on wells or springs for their drinking water, it's important for us to know what's in groundwater in Kentucky,” according to Steve Fisher, one of the KGS authors of the cadmium publication. “This series of maps provides information on cadmium and other potentially-harmful contaminants from the data in the repository.”
Co-author Bart Davidson of the KGS urges people not to assume that their well or spring water is safe. “While the situation does look positive for the state based on the samples tested for cadmium , we urge anyone who uses a well or spring for human consumption to have it tested for cadmium and other potential contaminants.”
Previously published maps show concentrations of nitrate, fluoride, pH, mercury, selenium, and arsenic in Kentucky 's groundwater. KGS is currently working on more reports including other metals, herbicides and pesticides in groundwater.
Paper copies of the new publications are available for $1.50 each from the KGS Public Information Center on the UK campus at (859) 257-3896 or toll-free at (877) 778-7827. They can also be downloaded in “.pdf” format at the Survey's web site, http://www.uky.edu/kgs.
