Where it really goes?

The most prevalent routes of exposure to the contaminants in
fly ash waste are:

• Drinking groundwater that has been contaminated due to leaching or runoff.
   
• Inhaling dust particles as they become airborne.
   
• Ingesting soil from areas on which fly ash has been applied or settled. *this is the most common form of exposure in children.
   
• The National Academy of Sciences has found that fly ash contaminants can be absorbed through the root systems of plants, meaning they can be present in the vegetables you eat.
   
• Acid rain forms due to pollution and causes harmful elements like mercury, lead, cadmium and aluminum to be leached from the soil and rocks and it is then carried into the lakes where aquatic life may be affected. There
  is now a statewide mercury warning regarding fish
  consumption in Oklahoma.
  
  
• The levels of lead may build up in plants and animals in areas where air, water, or soil are contaminated with lead due to acid rain, leaching or runoff.
   
• Dissolved cadmium can bioaccumulate up the food chain, so ingestion is a common route of exposure. The accumulation of cadmium has been reported in food crops, livestock, wildlife and aquatic organisms. Cadmium is a cumulative toxin, so long-term exposure at an elevated level is a concern.

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