TDEC Monitoring for Thallium in Drinking Water

By Walter F. Roche Jr.

Tennessee environmental officials say they have yet to identify the source of thallium that turned up from testing of water in the Nolichucky River, but they have no evidence to demonstrate any public health concerns.
Kim Schofinski, spokeswoman for the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation, wrote in an email response to questions that testing thus far has turned up no evidence of the potentially dangerous chemical in drinking water facilities in the area.
The presence of thallium turned up in tests performed by US Nitrogen in Midway and reported to the state in a submission required under one of the company's permits.
The company reported that water it pumped back in the river contained thallium, but the company was not the source of the chemical.
"TDEC has not identified the source of thallium," Schofinski wrote, adding that "we have no evidence at this time to demonstrate any public health concerns."
She said monitoring at drinking water facilities in Greene County showed no traces of thallium.
"We will continue to monitor the situation closely," she concluded.
Some forms of thallium, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, can cause serious health problems and even death.
"Thallium can affect your nervous system, lung, heart, liver, and kidney if large amounts are eaten or drunk for short periods of time,"according to the CDC. "Temporary hair loss, vomiting, and diarrhea can also occur and death may result after exposure to large amounts of thallium for short periods," the agency description continues.
US Nitrogen said in an email that US Nitrogen does not use thallium in its manufacturing process.
"The US Nitrogen facility does not use thallium or substances containing thallium as a component of any manufacturing processes," Kim Ryans wrote in an email response to questions.
The company's environmental specialist added, "The water sampled and discharged to the Nolichucky River does not come into direct contact with US Nitrogen’s processes," she added.
"We cannot speak to background concentrations upstream of the intake point," she wrote when asked if the company was aware of the source of the thallium.
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