Researchers: State’s bourbon industry faces water contamination threat
STAFF REPORT
April 1, 2011, 12:01 a.m. — Kentucky’s role as the “Bourbon Capital of the World ™ © ®” may be threatened by news today of widespread contamination of water supplies across Kentucky.
Research scientists at the University of Kentucky’s College of Hydrological Science announced today that their tests show the lakes, ponds, rivers and waterways in Nelson County are contaminated with excessive levels of a hydrogen compound that has been known to cause death in less than two minutes when inhaled.
“What we’ve observed in Kentucky water samples are excessive amounts of dihydrogen monoxide,” Dr. Richard Simmonds, dean of the hydrological science department said at an early morning press conference. “We’re talking extreme levels,” he said. “The samples we have analyzed were literally saturated with the substance.”
The announcement affects all products created with Kentucky’s famous limestone water, a crucial ingredient in the manufacture of bourbon. Simmonds pointed out that the economic impact could be devastating because there’s no practical way to filter dihydrogen monoxide (DHMO) from the water supply. “You simply can’t remove DHMO from the water supply without eliminating water completely,” Simmonds said.
Researchers believe the high levels of DHMO found in Kentucky are due to the heavy statewide precipitation last month following the nuclear plant emergency in earthquake-devastated Japan. Dust particles high in the atmosphere are believed to have been the precursor to the precipitation as the dust combined with high levels of DHMO vapor before falling to Earth.
CONTAMINATION TO CONTINUE. Simmonds warned that the DHMO levels are likely to increase in the months ahead. “There’s no way that we can prevent this atmospheric process from recurring,” he warned. “As our collection teams conduct their field work they continue to be periodically overwhelmed by high levels of DHMO. We’ve outfitted our teams with full protective gear to insure their personal safety and comfort.”
IMPACT TO HEALTH. The Material Safety Data Sheet for DHMO (available for download at this link) indicates the substance has no odor or taste in its solid, liquid or gaseous forms. Technically, DHMO is considered a non-regulated product; it is known to react vigorously with certain other materials, including: sodium, potassium and other alkali metals. It forms an explosive gas when in contact with calcium carbide.
LINK TO JAPANESE DISASTER? Simmonds declined to link the Kentucky DHMO contamination with the nuclear power plant emergency in Japan. “All I am willing to say right now is that dihydrogen monoxide is a vital compound used in those damaged nuclear reactors … anything beyond that would be pure speculation on my part.”
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