California Gold Country trails contaminated with asbestos and heavy metals
A recent report entitled Gold Country Recreational Trails and Abandoned Mines was released by The Sierra Fund, a nonprofit environmental organization. The report detailed findings of lead, arsenic and asbestos contamination in and around old mines in the Sierra Nevada Mountains. These mines, most of them left over from the California gold rush of the mid to late 1800s, are contaminated with heavy metals and asbestos, leading to high levels of contamination on the nearby trails. Recreation vehicles traversing the trails kick up a lot of dust, and anyone near the trail – hikers, bikers, or riders – can breathe in contaminants that can lead to serious and life-threatening complications later in life.
For the full story, go to Web Wire.
