Recent water samples taken from the Mt. Shasta area indicate high levels of aluminum found in rainwater samples. Shown here is a rain guage where the most recent samples were taken.
Citizen concern lingers over aluminum in waterBy Charlie Unkefer
Mount Shasta Area Newspapers
Wed Mar 04, 2009, 05:39 PM PST
sourceMount Shasta, Calif. -Several Mt. Shasta area residents continue to express their concerns over what they say are toxic levels of aluminum showing up in area rain, snow and pond water samples taken in and around the City of Mt. Shasta.
Recent test results submitted to the Mt. Shasta Area Newspapers by two concerned citizens show levels of aluminum ranging from 198 ug/l (micro grams per liter) to 61,100 ug/l, with the most recent sample taken from a rain gauge within the Mt. Shasta city limits on Feb. 1, showing 1010 ug/l.
According to standards established by the California Environmental Protection agency, this number exceeds the 1000 ug/l Primary MCL maximum contaminant level) for aluminum, qualifying it as unfit for drinking.
The concerns over the apparent high levels of aluminum first surfaced last spring, as a small group of Siskiyou and Shasta county residents began expressing their alarm over what they claim is an aerial spraying program intended to control the weather or thwart global warming.
The issue, commonly referred to as “chemtrails,” is seen by many as nothing more than an internet hoax. Others, however, claim that the lingering plumes of exhaust from planes is part of a world wide program to create a heavy metal “shield” in the atmosphere.
Beginning last spring, some area residents began asserting their consternation over the long lingering clouds seen throughout the area. Proponents of the theory say that contrails, the normal water vapor emitted from jet engines, dissipate quickly, while chemtrails linger for up to half a day, often morphing into a cirrus cloud- like canopy, creating an overcast sky.
History of testingThe regional testing for aluminum began over claims that the exhaust trails consist of aluminum, barium and strontium. Since May, 2008, over 40 samples have been collected, with the majority showing high levels of aluminum.
“This rain water is essentially poisonous,” said Frances Mangels, one of the citizens involved in the sampling.
Mangels has expressed his concerns to local governments and state and federal agencies but has heard no responses to his inquiries.
Science questioned
Perry LeBeouf, a California Department of Water Resources data officer, said the MCL level for any given potential contaminant is typically used to evaluate factors relative to the quality and safety of drinking water systems.
LeBeouf noted that most of the tests for aluminum are done in and around drinking water systems and that there is not a lot of information about aluminum in natural water systems or rain and snow water.
According to LeBeouf, “Aluminum is not very well understood.” He also emphasized that it is a commonly found element and that the levels vary from area to area.
This sentiment was furthered by Siskiyou County Air Pollution Control Officer Eldon Beck, who said that aluminum is not something that is regularly tested in Siskiyou County other than the drinking water system requirements.
Beck noted, “I’ve read reports that there are naturally recurring amounts of aluminum in the atmosphere,” furthering the sentiment expressed by LeBeouf that the samples, while interesting, need more background information to be fully understood.
“I’m fascinated by these numbers and would like to know what this area looks like compared to other areas (in terms of aluminum content in the water),” said Mt. Shasta biologist Rene Henery, who noted that he was not aware of any baseline data for this element in the region but had his concerns that they numbers are high relative to the CEPA primary MCL standards. “Aluminum is definitely super-toxic,” he noted.
One point noted by LeBeouf was that it is not just a question of how much aluminum is in the water. “The PH level of water is also a factor,” he said, noting that there is a broader context that needs exploration whenever sampling occurs.
Guy Chetelat of the Central Valley Water Quality Control Board, one of the primary agencies involved in regional surface and groundwater issues, noted that his agencies had little information about aluminum levels in water. He said he was aware of the concerns being expressed by Shasta and Siskiyou County residents. “There’s a level of public concern around this and we are looking into it,” he said.
Concerns rebuffedThe concerns around aluminum were presented to the Mt. Shasta City Council this past summer as well as the Shasta County Board of Supervisors. In both cases, the governing bodies chose not to further investigate the issue, questioning the validity and scope of the tests, as well as their respective jurisdictions over the issue.
Speaking more generally about the issue, Beck noted, “They (the County Supervisors) did some research and decided that the chemtrail issue was a non-issue, and we left it at that.”
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kevinvl1 week ago
Are there any government or reputable agencies that have conducted testing? Your article makes all this sound very plausible that our drinking water is toxic. Couldn't you provide the other side of the story?
frenchie1 week ago
Yes there are organizations like the National Center of Biotechnology:
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15236778?dopt=Abstractfrenchie1 week ago
High levels of Silver (Ag), Barium (Ba) and Strontium (Sr) and low levels of copper (Cu) have been measured in the antlers, soils and pastures of the deer that are thriving in the chronic wasting disease (CWD) cluster zones in North America in relation to the areas where CWD and other transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (TSEs) have not been reported. The elevations of Ag, Ba and Sr were thought to originate from both natural geochemical and artificial pollutant sources--stemming from the common practise of aerial spraying with 'cloud seeding' Ag or Ba crystal nuclei for rain making in these drought prone areas of North America, the atmospheric spraying with Ba based aerosols for enhancing/refracting radar and radio signal communications as well as the spreading of waste Ba drilling mud from the local oil/gas well industry across pastureland. These metals have subsequently bioconcentrated up the foodchain and into the mammals who are dependent upon the local Cu deficient ecosystems. A dual eco-prerequisite theory is proposed on the aetiology of TSEs which is based upon an Ag, Ba, Sr or Mn replacement binding at the vacant Cu/Zn domains on the cellular prion protein (PrP)/sulphated proteoglycan molecules which impairs the capacities of the brain to protect itself against incoming shockbursts of sound and light energy. Ag/Ba/Sr chelation of free sulphur within the biosystem inhibits the viable synthesis of the sulphur dependent proteoglycans, which results in the overall collapse of the Cu mediated conduction of electric signals along the PrP-proteoglycan signalling pathways; ultimately disrupting GABA type inhibitory currents at the synapses/end plates of the auditory/circadian regulated circuitry, as well as disrupting proteoglycan co-regulation of the growth factor signalling systems which maintain the structural integrity of the nervous system. The resulting Ag, Ba, Sr or Mn based compounds seed piezoelectric crystals which incorporate PrP and ferritin into their structure. These ferrimagnetically ordered crystals multireplicate and choke up the PrP-proteoglycan conduits of electrical conduction throughout the CNS. The second stage of pathogenesis comes into play when the pressure energy from incoming shock bursts of low frequency acoustic waves from low fly jets, explosions, earthquakes, etc. (a key eco-characteristic of TSE cluster environments) are absorbed by the rogue 'piezoelectric' crystals, which duly convert the mechanical pressure energy into an electrical energy which accumulates in the crystal-PrP-ferritin aggregates (the fibrils) until a point of 'saturation polarization' is reached. Magnetic fields are generated on the crystal surface, which initiate chain reactions of deleterious free radical mediated spongiform neurodegeneration in surrounding tissues. Since Ag, Ba, Sr or Mn based piezoelectric crystals are heat resistant and carry a magnetic field inducing pathogenic capacity, it is proposed that these ferroelectric crystal pollutants represent the transmissible, pathogenic agents that initiate TSE.
frenchie1 week ago
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15236778?dopt=Abstractfrenchie1 week ago
Hermit7 days ago
Who SPECIFICALLY did this testing, and on what date was it done? Where specifically was it conducted?
I hope it wasn't just a psychic or a dowser.
frenchie6 days ago
tap google chemtrails
there are a lot of subjects over
mtrose6 days ago
In the article in the Mt. Shasta Herald, Citizen Concern Lingers Over Aluminum In Water, Perry LeBeouf the data officer from the California Department of Water Resources made the following comment, there is not a lot of information about aluminum in natural water systems or rain and snow water. I would suggest his comment is not accurate. There is much we do know about aluminum in California water systems. I encourage him to speak to a leading expert in this area, Rosalind Peterson, a former USDA scientist, Co-Founder of Agriculture Defense Coalition and Founder of California Skywatch. She won several awards and recognition for her extensive efforts to protect drinking water supplies from toxic chemical contamination in Martinez, California. She has spent hundreds of hours pouring over the following CD:
The California State Department of Health has a CD that is available to be purchased by the public for $100.00. This CD contains the results of every water test taken between 1984 and 2006, in the State of California from every public drinking water supply, this includes wells. If you would like your own copy of this CD please contact:
California State Department of Health Drinking Water Division at (916) 449-5568 and request, The California State Department of Health CD (1984-2006). Or send $100.00 to Drinking Water Program, Post Office Box 942732, Sacramento, California 94234-0732. Or a CD containing all of this data is available to the public upon payment of a fee to the California State Department of Health Drinking Water Division in Sacramento.
Peterson discovered the following, while researching through the water data:
CALIFORNIA STATE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH DRINKING WATER TEST RESULTS
1984 - 2007
The California State Department of Health, Drinking Water Division, Sacramento, California, collects all of the water test data from every public drinking water source in the State of California.
These tests are required by the EPA and the State of California, due to possible health effects, when various metals, herbicides, pesticides and other substances are found above state or federal standards in drinking water sources.
1) A review of all water tests in the State of California between 1984 and 2006 from results on this CD was conducted over a six-month period. Every water test result over -0- was analyzed and checked to find any unusual water contaminant data. The results of this search yielded some unusual statistics here in Mendocino and several other Northern California Counties.
2) It was discovered that Barium, Magnesium, Lead, Manganese, Aluminum, Iron, Sodium, and Specific Conductance (the ability of water to conduct a charge), were being found under unusual circumstances in our drinking water supplies. Unusual spikes were occurring in almost all drinking water sources in Mendocino County and in other counties throughout the State of California.
Prior to 1990, these spikes were not evident in drinking water tests results (most tests results were -0-), unless there were historic levels in the water shown by test results each year from 1984. The test results do show that in non-spike years these contaminants were not found in most water sources. Why?
3) These specific spikes started in 1991, and have continued in certain specific years through 2006. The interesting part of these water spikes is that these contaminants almost always spike at the same time and in the same year. If, for example, Specific Conductance is high, then all or almost all the other test results are high at the same time. (Other test results revealed that Boron, Silver and sometimes Zinc were also present during these spikes in some water tests.)
The Albion Mutual Water Company East Well, used as only one example, shows Specific Conductance spiking in 1995, along with Magnesium and Lead. Again in 2001, Specific Conductance spikes and so does Magnesium and Manganese. The years prior to and in between these dates show -0- results. The Albion Mutual Water Company West Well, for example shows all -0- readings until 1998, when Specific Conductance, Magnesium, Sodium and Aluminum all spike.
The Calpella County Water District has definite spike patterns of Magnesium, Barium, Iron and Manganese in the years 1995, 1998 and 2001. The Covelo Eel River Charter School Well 01, shows Magnesium, Barium, Iron, Manganese, Zinc and Specific Conductance spikes in 1999 and 2001, with Specific Conductance reaching a high of 5,390.
In 1999, the Fort Bragg CSP-Mackerricher State Park Lake Cleone Intake Supply Raw, water tests show spiking in 1999 for Specific Conductance (1290), Magnesium (20), Chloride (325), Barium (54) and aluminum (64). Note that test results are in parts per billion. What is interesting is that Iron(1600 ppb) spikes in 2001, along with Manganese (2200 ppb), in this raw water supply.
The unusual part is that these water test results are consistent in almost every single public drinking water source in all of Mendocino County, whether in Ukiah, Fort Bragg, Hopland, Laytonville or Willits. The spikes are consistent in some years, vary in parts per billion (ppb), but show that something unusual is happening to the air in Mendocino County which is impacting the quality of our water. Since these diverse water sources are not connected it is believed that air pollution is the major source of these contaminants in our drinking water supplies.
4) Why are these spikes only found since 1994? Why do these contaminants only spike as a group and not, in the majority of cases, independently of one another? And why is every single public drinking water source showing some form of this spike pattern? The California Air Resources Board Statewide Summary for Iron, Aluminum, Iron, Zinc, Manganese and Barium, also show positive air test results between 1989 and 2001. Our water test spikes appear to correlate strongly with California Air Quality test results. Why?
5) What is causing these water spikes in Mendocino County? How is this impacting the quality of the water we drink? What impact do these spikes have on public health, the quality of our water, our air, soil and trees? What is the source of these pollutants? Industry, jet fuel emissionswhat is happening in Mendocino County and in other counties throughout California? There are many questions and few answers. Why are the California Air Resources Control Board Air Testing Results correlating in some respects with our positive water test results?
To read the full article see:
http://www.californiaskywatch.com/water/index.html***********************
What we do know about our underground water in this area is, that it is not typical to find any aluminum in the underground water sources. When a Mt. Shasta City resident called our local Dannon water plant and asked if there was any naturally occurring aluminum in their spring water, the company said, no.
And according to Peterson, the City of Redding water districts water reports show most of their water test as non-detectable for aluminum or a minute amount (55 ug/L) appearing in some of their surface waters in some years. They have cease testing for aluminum and barium since 2003. Why?
Given that Shasta County and Siskiyou County residents brought their aluminum and barium contamination concerns to the Shasta County Board of Supervisors, why havent they resumed testing for aluminum and barium in the water? And why hasnt Shasta County or Siskiyou County Air Quality Boards begun to test for aluminum and barium in our areas atmosphere?
The accumulation factor should also be considered. Two lab tests results were taken in Shasta County. The samples were taken from a filtered location (forested hilltop away from any highway or industry). The first sample was taken from a pond, which was lined with a Fish Safe Firestone Pond Guard liner, which is considered safe for aquatic life. The water sampled was an accumulation of over 1- years (18 months). This water test result came back at 375,000 ug/l, that is 375 times the maximum contaminant level (MCL). The MCL for drinking water in this state is 1,000 ug/l or 1 mg/l. There were only two water sources for this pond, rainwater and well. The well water was tested at the time the pond was filled and it tested, ND (not detected) for aluminum.
cliffbab****1 day ago
OH MY GOD WE ARE ALL GOING TO DIE!
mtrose44 minutes ago
Here is my response to the flippant remark by the great intellectual giant, above, 'Oh my god we are all going to die', regarding the unprecedented amounts of aluminum that has been documented in our area's water.
This aluminum, barium and strontium issue is not going away no matter how much some want to stick their heads in the sand and pretend it doesn't exist. No it isn't killing most of us immediately, although these serious neuro-toxins are very likely having serious impacts upon all of us and especially the most vulnerable in our community:
1) Babies and the very young children whose bodies are smaller with immune systems not fully developed. We have unprecedented rates of asthma, autism and attention deficit disorders in this very community and in all over our country.
2) people whose health is already compromised due is illness or old age. There has be a dramatic rise in Alzheimer's in our older populations (and exposure to aluminum has been indicated as one factor).
3) The bees, now the bats (in Kentucky, Ohio and Tennessee), trees and fish are dying at unprecedented rates in our state and around the country, AND NOBODY HAS DONE THE NECESSARY EPIDEMIOLOGICAL STUDIES TO SEE IF DISPERSING MASSIVE ALUMINUM OXIDE PARTICLES AT UNPRECEDENTED RATES IS CONTRIBUTING TO THE MASSIVE DIE-OFFS.
Las Vegas Tribune article (a large mainstream paper) reports it quite well:
'residents are increasingly noticing the appearance of chemical trails overhead. Such chemtrails' are substantially different in appearance to the normal condensation trails left by jet airliners. The difference is that while condensation trails are composed of water vapor that dissipates rapidly, 'chemtrails' linger much longer and spread out over time to eventually cover the sky with a thin haze Especially disturbing for residents of heavily chemtrailed communities like Las Vegas is a 'chemtrail sickness' associated with heavy spray days leaving many stricken people complaining of the 'flu' and acute allergic reactions months along with debilitating fatigue - and something even more worrying. See: Las Vegas Tribune article, Chemtrails Are Over Las Vegas at: http://www.chembuster.us/Las Vegas Tribune.htm
Also for all the chemtrail deniers out there google: 'Don't Ask About The Weather' documentary (you can watch it for free on youtube) then lets have an informed debate, until then you are WOEFULLY UNINFORMED and not worth another moment of my time.
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Don't Talk About the Weather"
