In Pennsylvania’s Greene and Washington counties, Ten Mile Creek is located in a coal mining area and among shale gas wells. New Pittsburgh Courier reports the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection is going to test the creek’s water to determine if it has been contaminated by fracking fluids.

The DEP will test the creek at the end of June to determine if radioactive materials are present. Ten Mile Creek is a major tributary of the Monongahela River as well as a major source of drinking water for the area. Initial tests over a year ago showed radioactive levels higher than normal averages for Pennsylvania. The results of the tests showed increased levels of radium-226 and radium-228 in the creek downstream, upstream and coming directly from an old mine discharge in Washington County.

Some of the radioactive materials naturally found in shale formations are radium and uranium. Other chemicals, like bromides, are found in fracking wastewater and can cause carcinogenic effects if mixed with other chemicals.

Via: New Pittsburgh Courier > DEP to investigate creek near mine discharge for radioactivity