Health Examiners Find Reports of Adverse Affects from TVA Coal Ash Spill

Residents living near the site of TVA’s massive coal ash spill in December say the ash is affecting their health.

A third of the respondents to a health department survey say their respiratory problems are getting worse.

The 368 people surveyed live less than a mile and a half from the Kingston coal plant. That’s where more than a billion gallons of coal ash sludge broke free from a holding pond.

State epidemiologist Tim Jones says he isn’t surprised people are experiencing worsening coughs and trouble breathing. After the spill, the ash dried out, and trucks involved in the cleanup have been kicking it up round the clock.

“The good thing, I think, is tests have shown there are not significant amounts of toxic chemicals in the dust itself.”

Jones says that means there shouldn’t be any long-term affects from the airborne ash.

View the report here.