Identifying potential trace metal contamination impacts of a coal ash landfill on the largest Chesapeake Bay tributary (Chester, VA, USA).

This article focuses on assessing the presence and concentrations of trace metals associated with coal fly ash contamination near the Chesterfield power station adjacent to the James River, a tributary to Chesapeake Bay, and evaluating the local aquatic ecosystem using environmental DNA (eDNA) sampling. The study found elevated levels of aluminum, arsenic, cadmium, chromium, iron, lead, and zinc in sediments near coal ash disposal sites, with enrichment factors indicating anthropogenic contamination, while surface and deep water samples showed little contamination. eDNA analysis identified 22 teleost fish species, including several threatened, endangered, and diadromous species important for recreational fishing, present in contaminated areas. The findings highlight potential ecological risks from sediment-bound metals and underscore the need for further research on bioaccumulation, species sensitivity, and long-term impacts of coal ash contamination in this watershed.