Thursday, June 25, 2015

Possibly Harmful Chemicals Detected in Recycled Oil Wastewater Used on Crops

Recent testing by the State Water Quality Control Board revealed the presence of toxic chemicals in recycled oil wastewater used on 45,000 acres of Kern County farmland. Minute amounts of potentially harmful hydrocarbons, benzene and acetone were detected in the irrigation water. With surface water supplies at an all-time low, some Kern County farmers are using more recycled water. The Central Valley Regional Board does not consider it a public threat right now, and has a committee that includes food safety experts taking a closer look at the situation. Pacifica’s Vic Bedoian Reports from Fresno.