Coal fly ash dumped into pits in Gambrills has contaminated nearby water supplies and the air as well.
“We don?t know how much exposure there is … but what we do know is that all of this was preventable,” said Brad Heavner, director of Environment Maryland, which had dust samples tested for fly ash.
Of the 12 samples collected from residential areas around the pits, all tested positive for fly ash.
Eight samples contain other coal dust, which could either be from the fly ash dump site or soot from power plants. The American Lung Association in its 2007 report gave the county a failing grade for air quality.
Most of the samples found trace evidence of fly ash, including a sample taken at a nearby playground. But one sample at the senior housing complex next to one of the pits showed 5 percent of the dust contained coal ash and soot.
Heavner said another study is needed to determine what it could mean for the health of the residents.
“You can?t draw a conclusion on the environmental risk assessment or regulation needs [based on this report],” said Anthony Stratton, vice president of Eastmount Environmental Services, the company that tested the samples.
Fly ash causes respiratory inflammation, and it can enter the bloodstream through the lungs and cause heart problems.
“It?s going to take years before the problem shows up in people,” said Norman Harvey of the Greater Gambrills Improvement Association. “We need to take the strongest action possible to prevent future damage.”
The pits are located off Waugh Chapel Road and Route 3. One pit is next to a medical center and a large shopping center.
The ash, which belongs to Constellation Energy, contaminated dozens of wells. The Maryland Department of the Environment fined Constellation and ordered a cleanup.
Maureen Brown, a Constellation spokeswoman, said the company no longer dumps ash at the pits. She declined to comment about the report.
MDE conducted air tests of the dump site 27 times since September, and discovered fly ash in all of those samples. The same level of fly ash also was found in samples taken as far as eight miles from the site, state officials said.
“Given the dust control measures in place, the relatively low toxicity of fly ash ? you can assume the risk is in a very low range,” said Phil Heard, a health adviser with MDE.
