Scientists reveal ‘environmental disaster’ concerns for giant lake with $540,000,000,000 worth of 'white gold' sitting beneath

A Californian lake may finally receive environmental treatment thanks to there being more than half a trillion dollars worth of 'white gold' concealed underneath it.

The Salton Sea is the largest lake in the Golden State, despite not forming until 1905, but has been dubbed by many as being an 'environmental disaster' with its foul odor and hazardous chemicals corrupting nearby estates.

The Salton Sea is located in southern California (Getty stock)

It is partially due to what it is sat on - an estimated $540 billion worth of lithium, or 18 million tons of it, and it's referred to as 'white gold' due to its value and appearance.

It is one of Earth's most precious metals and can be used in a medicinal way to treat people with bi-polar, as well as in batteries - and the reservoir sat underneath the lake is so vast it could power more than 382 million batteries for electric vehicles.

First of all, I'll explain how the 19th largest lake in the US came about because knowing that it was formed just 120 years ago may sound bonkers.

It is a man-made body of water, although not intentionally. The Salton Sea lies in a basin called the Salton Sink, and was formed after floodwater from the Colorado River breached an irrigation canal.

As the years have passed, it has widely been known by locals for its eggy stench - created by the decomposing Salton Sea's organic matter emitting hydrogen sulfide, as well as its vastly increased salinity, while the briny lake's waterline has significantly sank.

The drastically increased salinity levels in Salton Sea, mixed with lower oxygen levels and significantly less ocean water, means it is virtually impossible for fish to survive in the lake (Getty stock)

There are several hazards that come out of this decline in water, the first is that ocean water is now half of the salinity levels in the lake, with oxygen levels also falling, meaning the chance of any fish surviving in the pond is next to zero.

It has had a knock-on effect on the visitors who used to pop by for a bite to eat, with scientists recording that there has been a sharp decline of fish-eating birds swinging by.

Secondly, as the waterline lowers, it leaves behind a dust layer that contains harmful toxins that have sadly exposed those nearby to cardiovascular and respiratory diseases.

The Salton Sea Community Outreach Education & Engagement has detailed these toxins on its website when speaking of the dangers to public health.

"As the sea evaporates, it leaves behind dust containing hazardous pollutants such as selenium, arsenic and traces of pesticides. These sediment particles are picked up by desert winds and can be carried over hundreds of miles of land," it writes.

The Salton Sea is the fourth-largest man-made lake in the US (Getty stock)

"These dust particles are measured as Particulate Matter (PM2.5 and PM10). PM10 are particles that measure about 10 microns in diameter and are small enough that they can enter the deepest parts of our lungs.

"PM10 are usually generated by smoke, soot, dust, salts, acids, metals, and exhaust. PM10 is viewed as one of the most harmful pollutants, and have been linked to an increasing severity of asthma and other lung diseases."

It continued: "Particles that measure 2.5 microns or less are within the PM2.5 scale and are tiny enough to be directly absorbed into the bloodstream.

"These particles can cause a more serious variety of health issues; respiratory and cardiovascular diseases are all common consequences of short and long term exposure.

"Individuals with greater risk factors such as age and predisposed diseases could be at higher risk of hospitalization and mortality."