Second chemical spilled into West Virginia’s Elk River

Freedom Industries, which owns the facility at fault for the Jan. 9 chemical spill in West Virginia’s Elk River, has revealed that two chemicals were released into the water, according to National Public Radio. The information comes weeks after the spill was first reported.

During that time, testing only focused on the spill of one chemical, MCHM, that is commonly used for washing coal. The second, PPH, is a mixture of polyglycol ethers. While it made up about 7 percent of the tank that spilled into the Elk River, those testing the water didn’t detect it. Officials say the miss is most likely because tests being used were meant to detect the known chemical.

It was not until the West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection issued an order for a list of all spilled materials that Freedom Industries disclosed the information. Testing for PPH is not required under the Safe Drinking Water Act.