Thallium Source in Nolichucky Uncertain

By Walter F. Roche Jr.

Somewhere between mile markers 57 and and 20.8 on the Nolichucky River a substantial amount of a toxic chemical has been deposited in the waterway, but the source of the chemical remains a mystery..
The presence of thallium first became known in a report filed recently by US Nitrogen which operates a substantial chemical manufacturing facility in Greene County.
In that report filed with the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation, the company reported that water it has discharged into the Nolichucky contained 10.3 parts per billion into the river. The company discharge and intake points are located at mile marker 20.8 of the river in southern Greene County.
The company uses millions of gallons of river water per year in the manufacture of ammonium nitrate.
Some 37 miles upstream at mile marker 57.2, annual tests conducted by the Greeneville Water Commission show no thallium. The tests were conducted on an annual basis on the water that the commission distributes to its customers.
"We are way upstream from US Nitrogen," Laura White of the commission wrote in response to questions.
The maximum level of thallium in drinking water is 2 parts per billion.
In addition, reliable reports show that when water in the Nolichucky arrives at mile marker 20.8 million prior to treatment in US Nitrogen facilities it has a 3 parts per billion level of thallium, less than half the level of 10.3 parts per billion when the company discharges some but not all of the Nolichucky water back into the river.
US Nitrogen officials say that there is no thallium in the water they finally use for manufacturing of ammonium nitrate.
"The US Nitrogen facility does not use thallium or substances containing thallium as a component of any manufacturing processes," Kim Ryans, a US Nitrogen environmental specialist, wrote in an email response to questions.
"The water sampled and discharged to the Nolichucky River does not come into direct contact with US Nitrogen’s processes," she added.
TDEC officials say they have not yet identified a possible source of the thallium. US Nitrogen officials say the same.
"We cannot speak to background concentrations upstream of the intake point," Ryans said in an email.
Contact: wfrochejr999@gmail.com