High amounts of heavy metals detected at Elkhorn Slough Reserve
MOSS LANDING, Calif. (KION-TV) -- High concentrations of heavy metal nanoparticles have been discovered in the Elkhorn Slough Reserve in the wake of the Vistra Energy battery fire in Moss Landing.
Research scientists from San Jose State University's Moss Landing Marine Laboratories (MLML) discovered the high while testing and analyzing marsh soil within the days following the fire. The team noticed a large increase of nickel, manganese and cobalt within the surface of the soils.
The Vistra Energy battery fire broke out on January 16 at the Moss Landing Power Plant, leading to evacuation orders and concerns about the air and water quality in the areas. Monterey County officials have also been made aware of the team's findings.
These three heavy metal elements, known as "NMC," are commonly found in lithium-ion batteries. In a press release, the team stated that these metals will "chemically transform" as they navigate the environment, potentially affecting local aquatic life and ecosystems.
The team will continue to monitor metal levels in the soil to provide the community with updates later this week. MLML's professor and department chair, Dr. Ivano Aiello, said that research such as this is crucial as the need for battery facilities on a national and international scale begins to grow.
Dr. Aiello has worked at the Moss Landing Marine Lab for more than 10 years, researching soil and marsh restoration.
"The concern I specifically have is if the metals move both physically and chemical through the system and getting into the groundwater and waterways and eventually might be incorporated in biological activity and even make it all the way up to the food chain," Dr. Aiello told KION in an interview.
The County of Monterey responded Monday, saying, "We are grateful for and recognize the importance of the environmental sampling and testing conducted by Dr. Ivano Aiello’s team and commend their diligence in reporting their results."
"The danger is that those toxins might impact the local ecosystem," Dr. Aiello said. "That That's why we're poised to study in the next weeks, months and years. Because we don't know much about what are the medium or long term consequences of such an event because this is the first time."
