NewsMine — nature-health — environment — pollution — Viewing Item

Sheep die after eating contaminated plants Original Source Link: (May no longer be active)    http://www.trib.com/AP/wire_detail.php?wire_num=10041 http://www.trib.com/AP/wire_detail.php?wire_num=10041 Hundreds of sheep die after eating toxic plants rb7BDcarb7a SODA SPRINGS, Idaho (AP) - More than 300 sheep grazing near a former phosphate mine died last month after eating plants contaminated with selenium, a waste product from mining. The sheep were part of a two-year study sponsored by the University of Idaho and the J.R. Simplot Co. to determine how animals react to selenium in the environment. They were grazing by the now-defunct Conda phosphate mine, which is owned by Simplot. Scientists blamed a plant called Curlycap Gumweed, which absorbs high levels of selenium from the soil. Selenium is a naturally occurring element that is toxic in high levels. Greg Moller, University of Idaho associate professor of environmental toxicology, said researchers did not anticipate the deaths. ''There's no doubt there's tragedy here. This was not planned,'' Moller said. Last summer, the research team gave 72 sheep varying levels of selenium in vegetation and water, and only one elderly sheep died, Moller said. They allowed the 1,400-animal band to graze in the mining area beginning May 19 this year. By May 25, the sheep began to die. Preliminary tests show the Curlycap Gumweed plants had selenium levels about 40 times the recommended maximum. Simplot spokesman Rick Phillips said researchers did not include the plant in their earlier tests. ''Gumweed wasn't even on the radar,'' Phillips said. The Conda mine was opened in 1906. Simplot bought the mine in the 1960s and closed it in the 1970s. Because mining guidelines were less stringent in the past, Phillips said, the contaminated soil is probably near the surface. Phillips said the research was a breakthrough. ''It's shocking to see so many sheep die, but we're learning so much more than we did before,'' Phillips said. The sheep owners will be reimbursed. In 2001, more than 150 sheep died from selenium poisoning in the Conda mine area. In 1996, horses in the region died from selenium poisoning. AP-WS-06-20-03 1308EDT

10 states sue epa over clean air act violations { April 11 2005 } 28 bevhills inside [jpg] America is ravaging the planet { October 24 2003 } Bhhs decorated oil derrick cancer Bush science aide rejects claim of distorted facts { April 3 2004 } Changes to yosemite restricts automobiles { April 1 2004 } Clean air sue { June 13 2002 } Coral reefs { October 24 2000 } Dead electronics threat to environment { January 21 2005 } Drop epa policing Ecological far worse { August 26 2002 } Ehrlich allows chicken waste runoff { June 14 2003 } Epa chief resigns { May 21 2003 } Epa eases pollution rule at power plants { August 27 2003 } Epa lifts ban selling pcb polluted property Epa strips wetlands of pollution controls Feds seek overturn clean air law { September 2 2003 } Hydrogen fuel cells props up coal industry Jeb bush delays everglades cleanup { May 21 2003 } Judge taken off everglades case { September 24 2003 } New judge bad for everglades { September 28 2003 } New rules radioactive waste { November 18 2003 } Oil tanker spain Otters dying west coast { April 30 2003 } Ozone bigger than ever { September 12 2003 } Pentagon is nations biggest polluter { June 30 2008 } Pollution algae leaves chesapeake life gasping { August 7 2003 } Pollution controls Pollution related beach closings way up { August 5 2004 } Putin puts last spike in kyoto { December 3 2003 } Record level of toxins 2002 Rocket fuel contaminant found in breast milk { February 23 2005 } Russia rejects pact on climate { December 3 2003 } Sheep die after eating contaminated plants Smog impedes kids lung development Soft drink leaks from factory destroys watercourse Texas reactor leak { May 1 2003 } Texas river mysteriously turns reddish orange { January 10 2006 } Us eases air restrictions older power plants Water polluting Whitehouse ease mercury rules { December 3 2003 } Files Listed: 41

Correction/submissions

CIA FOIA Archive

National Security Archives

This site contains copyrighted material the use of which has not always been specifically authorized by the copyright owner. We are making such material available in our efforts to advance understanding of environmental, political, human rights, economic, democracy, scientific, and social justice issues, etc. We believe this constitutes a 'fair use' of any such copyrighted material as provided for in section 107 of the US Copyright Law. In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107, the material on this site is distributed without profit to those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving the included information for research and educational purposes. For more information, go to: http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/17/107.shtml. If you wish to use copyrighted material from this site for purpose of your own that go beyond 'fair use', you must obtain permission from the copyright owner.