Decades of Government Neglect: Unveiling St. Louis' Radioactive Waste Crisis
Newly-released government records reveal that radioactive waste from the Manhattan Project was known to pose a threat to people living near Coldwater Creek in St. Louis as early as 1949, but federal officials repeatedly downplayed the risks. Generations of children who grew up near the creek have faced rare cancers and autoimmune disorders believed to be caused by exposure to its waters and sediment. Cleanup of the creek is expected to take until 2038, and a federal study has found elevated rates of various cancers in the area. The documents show that private companies and the government were aware of the contamination but kept it secret from the public.