A Chemical Spill Turns a West Virginia River Milky White

West Virginia is famous for whitewater. Folks come from all over to ride the rapids of the New River and other great rivers of the Mountain State. Whitewater is a good thing, when the river is naturally given over to rapids. But a river up in Boone County suddenly and unexpectedly had its waters running white from a chemical spill today.

            The spill is from Patriot Coal, and the substance that blanched the river is DT-50-D, a chemical sprayed on coal cars to inhibit the spread of coal dust. The West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection says the substance is not toxic, but people should not swim in the river or drink its milky water. Not toxic but don't drink it. That sort of talk reminds me of Fukushima—or dozens of other spills for that matter—when officials said that the radiation—or other toxins—were not at high levels and not to be a concern.

            Somehow their assurances don't make my worries go away.