[TheRealVille]

The state Division of Water stalled for two years before releasing the information, the groups said.

"What makes us the maddest is that the division has had this information for a while now," said Judith Petersen of the Kentucky Waterways Alliance. The main concern with the levels found in Eastern Kentucky is the effect on fish and wildlife, Petersen said. But in higher doses, selenium can be toxic to humans.

At one mining site and one road cut, it found that water downstream exceeded state water quality standards. Other mining sites showed elevated levels.

At three mining sites, the groups said, tests of fish tissue exceeded the federal Environmental Protection Agency's recommendations for the mineral.

In five other areas, the levels in fish were high enough to be harmful to the fish.

Margaret Janes, with the Appalachian Center for the Economy and the Environment, said the fish tissue results were more telling than the water tests. Selenium accumulates in fish as does mercury, she said, showing chronic exposure.

http://www.kentucky.com/news/state/story/917547.html