Tracking contamination around a closed ethanol plant

Scientists from the University of Nebraska Medical Center, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Creighton University and Three Rivers Public Health Department are investigating the contamination of water, soil, and air caused by a closed ethanol plant that is being sued by the State of Nebraska.

Toxic piles of ethanol byproduct — called wet cake — are rotting on the grounds of the plant near Mead, Neb., and a stench permeates the area. Snow and rain send chemical-laden runoff into waterways, contaminating groundwater and drinking water. In dry weather, the wind kicks up toxic dust that has been linked to public health issues in local residents.

The AltEn LLC plant used seed corn coated with fungicides and insecticides — including those known as neonicotinoids or “neonics” — to produce ethanol, becoming one of the largest stockpilers of surplus seed corn in the United States. The wet cake was sold to farmers as fertilizer until it was found in 2019 to be contaminated with levels of toxins in excess of 1,000 times the legal threshold.

After being prohibited by the State from continuing to sell their wet cake, AltEn of Nebraska piled 84,000 tons of toxic wet cake and excess seed corn outdoors, rather than disposing of it.

Public health experts, led by the UNMC College of Public Health, have launched an investigation to determine the extent of the pollution by testing animals and taking samples of water, soil and air. This work will track the path of chemicals from the AltEn plant into drinking water and its impact on the lives of Nebraskans. Adverse effects on human health will be assessed and monitored as the research continues, and such data will be reported on these pages. Also, see updates from the Nebraska Department of Environment and Energy.