Investigative Report Uncovers Disturbing Truths About St. Louis' History with Radioactive Waste
Government Negligence and Hidden Dangers Revealed in Extensive Research
In a comprehensive investigation conducted by The Missouri Independent and MuckRock, shocking revelations about St. Louis' deep-rooted involvement with radioactive waste have come to light. Months of meticulous research, including the examination of thousands of government records, have exposed a disturbing history of environmental contamination and the disregard for public safety that followed the city's participation in the race to build an atomic bomb during World War II.
The investigation aimed to shed light on the extent to which government officials were aware of the spreading contamination and the risks it posed to residents of St. Louis County. While the contamination at the West Lake Landfill and Coldwater Creek has been a subject of concern for decades, the documents obtained by the newsrooms shed new light on the inadequate measures taken by federal officials to safeguard the health of the local population.
Highlighted below are five crucial findings from the investigation:
Early Knowledge of Coldwater Creek Contamination:
Documents revealed that Mallinckrodt Chemical Works, the company responsible for refining uranium in downtown St. Louis, was aware as early as 1949 that broken steel drums containing radioactive residue could pollute Coldwater Creek. Despite this knowledge, the company chose not to address the issue, deeming the potential risks to workers during the drum relocation to be more significant.
Disturbing Levels of Contamination in Coldwater Creek:
A draft survey commissioned by the federal government in 1976 uncovered dangerous levels of contamination running off into Coldwater Creek. Rainwater runoff had eroded the soil near the St. Louis airport storage site, leading to elevated concentrations of radionuclides in the creek sediment. Shockingly, the creek water itself was within permissible levels, creating a deceptive facade of safety.
Deceptive Disposal Practices by Cotter Corp:
Following World War II, the Atomic Energy Commission sought a buyer for radioactive waste, planning to allow a company to extract valuable metals and dispose of the remaining residue in a quarry in Weldon Spring. However, the U.S. Geological Survey warned against this plan, as it would contaminate the Missouri River, jeopardizing the drinking water of residents upstream. The Cotter Corporation, left with surplus radioactive waste, ultimately dumped it illegally at the West Lake Landfill in 1973.
Flawed Assessments of West Lake Landfill Contamination:
Despite a 1977 flyover test conducted by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC), which aimed to identify contaminated areas in the West Lake Landfill using gamma readings, federal officials mistakenly believed that only two sections were affected. This erroneous conclusion disregarded warnings from the Missouri Department of Natural Resources and activists, who argued for more comprehensive testing. It took over four decades for the Environmental Protection Agency to acknowledge the true extent of contamination at the site.
Escalating Radium Threat at West Lake Landfill:
Analysis conducted in the 1980s and recent research conducted by a former Washington University researcher indicate that radium activity at the West Lake Landfill will worsen over time. The imbalanced presence of radionuclides, thorium, and uranium at the site suggests exponentially increasing health and environmental hazards that will persist for the next 200 years, as confirmed by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
These revelations raise serious questions about the responsibility of government agencies, the actions of private companies, and the long-term implications for the health and well-being of St. Louis residents. The full investigation report, detailing the findings in-depth, can be accessed for further insights into this alarming chapter of St. Louis' history with radioactive waste.
Full Report here.