"Spotlight Hits Coal Ash Impact On Poor And Minority Communities"

"Too often toxic coal ash, a byproduct of coal-fired power, ends up in poor, minority communities. U.S. civil rights officials are launching a deeper look at federal environmental policy to find out why.

The U.S. Commission on Civil Rights will hold a hearing next week on environmental justice and the Environmental Protection Agency. The focus is the impact of coal ash, a toxic waste product of burning coal that often contains harmful metals such as lead, mercury, chromium and cadmium.

Depending on exposure, such contaminants can cause cancer and harm most human organs, and kill or sicken wildlife. Coal ash is the second largest source of industrial waste in the country, after mining, according to a joint report from the nonprofit environment law organization, Earthjustice, and the Physicians for Social Responsibility."

Brian Bienkowski reports for Environmental Health News January 14, 2016.

SEE ALSO:

"U.S. Government To Look Into Coal Ash As A Civil Rights Problem" (Climate Progress)

"Companies Mostly Dump Their Coal Ash In Poor, Minority Communities" (UPI)