An investigation showed the presence of heavy metals, toxic and carcinogenic, in the drinking water consumed by communities that are nourished by the southern aquiferwhich has been affected by the deposit of coal ashreported this Monday the College of Chemists of Puerto Rico.
However, the levels found in samples taken over a three-year period in Guayama, Arroyo and Salinas do not exceed the limits established by the Federal Environmental Protection Agency (EPA, in English), the entity announced.
“These concentrations, whether low or far from regulatory levels, do not necessarily ensure the health of the people”, the doctor warned Osvaldo Rosario Lopezadvisor to the College of Chemists of Puerto Rico.
According to the expert, organizations such as the Health and Environment commission of the European Commission, the World Health Organization, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC, in English) and the EPA itself “recognize that the practice of “Environmental compliance regulating individual levels of different substances that represent risks to the environment and health are not sufficient to ensure the health of the population.”
Rosario López established that “it has been found and published that mixtures of toxic and carcinogenic substances, in the long term, also represent a risk to the health of those who are exposed to these concentrations.”
Some of the 16 metals found in water examined in houses in Guayama and Salinas, between March 2021 and August 2023, were arsenic, copper, lead and uranium, which the group assures are associated with the ashes produced by the coal mine. AES Puerto Ricogenerating plant established in Guayama.
According to what was expressed in a press conference at the organization's headquarters, it is estimated that 2,000,000 tons of ashes have been deposited in the country since 2004.
Upon request for reaction from The new day, AES Puerto Rico indicated that the sampling plan conducted by the EPA and which ended in September 2023 was to detect “the presence in water of metals that are generally associated with coal combustion residues.” The conclusions from the sampling of 30 wells showed that “there were no exceedances of drinking water standards.”
“For AES, the safety of our more than 700 direct and indirect workers, and the communities in which we operate, are our priority. Our plants in Guayama have the highest industry standards and our operation has extensive environmental controls, is highly regulated and is frequently audited by local and federal agencies,” the company added in written statements.
This newspaper also requested comments from the EPA. At the time of this publication, they had not been sent.
As a result of the study, the College of Chemists recommended that the ashes be removed from the places where they were deposited and that they be disposed of in a safe manner for the health of citizens. Likewise, he advised that both the federal and local governments assume the responsibility of annually sampling the waters of the southern aquifer. In addition, he suggested that public policy be made viable to enforce environmental laws.
The College of Surgeons joined these requests. Dr. Ángel González, present at the press conference, explained that the presence of substances such as lead and arsenic mainly affect children, adolescents, pregnant people, older adults and those who suffer from pre-existing diseases.
In the case of lead, the professional explained that it has no nutritional function and is highly toxic to people. Regarding children, the doctor warned that the lowest level of lead can cause problems with learning, delayed growth, hearing problems and anemia.
According to González, this same metal, in pregnant people, has the potential to cause premature births, damage to the brain, kidneys or nervous system of the fetus, as well as spontaneous abortions.
“These metals build up over time and then cause more damage. Perhaps one of the recommendations we would make is to eliminate the consumption of that water until it is proven that it does not have those (substances). (…) All ashes must be removed from the area, at the expense of AES, and that it not be a burden on the country's pocket,” said Dr. González, who represented the Environmental Health committee of the College of Physicians.
The president of the College of Chemists, Maria Santiagoemphasized the need for the ashes to be removed so that the situation can be addressed proactively.
“The permanence of ash on the southern aquifer facilitates the percolation of heavy metals into our water sources, which is worrying. It is imperative to act immediately to mitigate any potential risk to the health of our people,” he maintained.
The analysis was carried out at the request of the communities and began, in March 2021, with samples of drinking water from household taps. Subsequently, at the end of 2023, the wells of the Water and sewage Authority (AAA).
The aforementioned research seeks to be a framework for subsequent measurements and take actions to guarantee public health, given concerns about the impact of coal ash. In that sense, it was reported that the findings presented were forwarded to various government agencies, including the AAA, the Department of Natural and Environmental Resources, the Governor's Office and the Legislature.