Sampling Results From Beech Creek Area Analyzed

Friday, August 20, 2010

The Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation reported today that mercury was not detected in any of the water samples collected in either Beech Creek or wells serving area residents. Results are not back yet for sediment and fish tissue samples.

On August 13, the department issued water contact and fish consumption advisories for Beech Creek, a small eastside tributary of the Tennessee River in Wayne County, due to the discovery of visible amounts of elemental mercury in sediment at one location in the creek near Leatherwood.

The advisory stated that the public should avoid contact with the sediment and should not eat fish, turtles or other aquatic life from the creek or the embayment on the Tennessee River, and remains in effect.

“These early sampling results are good news because they indicate that Beech Creek area water supplies have not been contaminated by mercury,” said Environment and Conservation Deputy Commissioner Paul Sloan.

The Department of Environment and Conservation has worked with the Department of Health to collect and analyze multiple samples over the past week:

Residential water was tested at 27 wells identified by department staff. Mercury was not detected in any of these water samples.

Water samples from Beech Creek itself were collected at three sites. Like the residential wells, none of these samples contained mercury in detectable amounts.
Sediment samples were collected at 13 locations, including the original Leatherwood site where mercury was previously documented at elevated levels. The analyses of these samples are not yet completed.
Fish were captured for analysis both in the embayment and in the creek. Bass species were targeted because they tend to bio-concentrate mercury and are, therefore, good indicators of its presence. These data will indicate whether or not consumption of fish poses a threat to public health.

“The initial results of water sampling are reassuring, but until the sediment and fish sample results have been analyzed and reported, the public should continue to avoid contact with Beech Creek sediment and should not eat fish from Beech Creek or its embayment on the Tennessee River,” said Sloan.

Citizens are strongly urged to not go looking for mercury in the creek. Mercury should never be handled because the vapor from it is very toxic and is easily inhaled. Some forms of mercury can also be absorbed by the skin. The department will continue to provide updates as additional information becomes available.

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