High molybdenum in Wisconsin wells not from coal ash

When high levels of the trace element molybdenum were discovered in drinking-water wells in southeastern Wisconsin, the region's numerous coal ash disposal sites seemed to be a likely source of the contamination.

But some fine-grained detective work led by researchers from Duke University and The Ohio State University has revealed that the ponds which contain the residues of coal burned in power plants are not the source of the contamination. It stems from natural sources instead. Read more.