Radioactive Shock: Contamination Found in Ohio’s Soil, Water, and Food Chain!

Published on 28 December 2024 at 10:30

PIKETON, OH – A recent scientific investigation this year has unveiled an alarming environmental legacy from the Cold War: the contamination of soil, water, and vegetation with Neptunium-237 (237Np), a highly radioactive isotope with a 2.1-million-year half-life. The source? The now-decommissioned Portsmouth Gaseous Diffusion Plant (PGDP), a uranium enrichment facility that played a pivotal role in America's nuclear ambitions from 1954 to 2001.

The Discovery

Dr. Michael Ketterer, a chemist emeritus from Northern Arizona University, conducted a study in the riparian zone where Little Beaver Creek meets Big Beaver Creek, downstream from the former PGDP. The findings were stark: levels of 237Np in the area’s soils are up to 100 times greater than what could be attributed to global nuclear fallout from the mid-20th century. The contamination has infiltrated the ecosystem, with significant uptake of 237Np detected in local vegetation.

How Did This Happen?

PGDP operated during the Cold War to produce enriched uranium for nuclear weapons, reactors, and naval propulsion. However, as the government ramped up production, the plant introduced "reactor returns"—recycled uranium contaminated with isotopes like 237Np, plutonium, and technetium. These radioactive byproducts were released into the environment through air, soil, and water pathways, despite attempts to contain them.

Internal documents from as early as the 1970s reveal that the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) and its contractors were aware of the contamination risks. Efforts to control the migration of radioactive materials were insufficient, resulting in their seepage into the local ecosystem.

What the Study Found

Key findings from the report include:

  • Soil Contamination: Surface soils and sediments near the PGDP contain 237Np concentrations between 8 and 21 picograms per gram. For context, fallout from nuclear weapons testing accounts for only 0.1 picograms per gram globally.
  • Water Contamination: Water samples from the creeks show 0.8–1.0 picograms of 237Np per liter. Upstream samples contained none, confirming the contamination originates from PGDP.
  • Vegetation Uptake: Local grasses absorb 237Np, with concentrations around 2 picograms per gram of dry matter. The isotope moves from soil to plants and back into the soil, perpetuating its presence in the ecosystem.

Public Health Concerns

The contamination raises grave concerns for the health and safety of nearby communities. Residents within 10-15 miles of the plant are at risk of exposure through food grown in contaminated soils. Though the DOE has funded studies on radioactive uptake in plants, it has not adequately informed local populations about these risks.

A Call for Accountability

The findings have ignited calls for greater transparency and action from the DOE. Despite its awareness of the contamination since the 1970s, the agency has not fully addressed the issue. Environmental reports have glossed over the severity of the radioactive plume impacting Little Beaver Creek and the surrounding aquifers.

Experts and activists are demanding:

  • Comprehensive studies on the transfer of radionuclides into the food chain.
  • Clear communication to residents about potential health risks.
  • A robust cleanup and remediation strategy to limit further spread of contamination.

Lingering Questions

The PGDP study highlights the broader implications of the Cold War nuclear industry’s environmental impact. Neptunium-237’s extraordinarily long half-life ensures that the contamination will persist for millennia, raising concerns about the sustainability of agricultural and natural resources in the area.

Looking Ahead

Dr. Ketterer’s findings emphasize the need for immediate attention to this environmental crisis. The DOE and other authorities must prioritize remediation and public education to mitigate risks for current and future generations.

For the residents of Piketon, Ohio, this report serves as both a wake-up call and a rallying cry. The radioactive legacy of PGDP is no longer a hidden problem—it’s a crisis that demands action.


 


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Comments

Romi Elnagar
19 days ago

Out in the West, there were areas designated as "Nuclear Sacrifice Zones," where atomic weapons were tested.

It seems like the Nuclear Industry and the NRC are willing to sacrifice MANY people all over the country for their obscene profits!

Vina Colley
18 days ago

The money makers don't care about the victims at all.Portsmouth/Piketon Residents for Environmental Safety and Security (PRESS) worked closely with Dr Ketterer for over a year taking samples. PRESS has warned the company since 1993 that Little Beaver creek , Big Beaver creek was contaminated and we asked for signs to be put up. Still no signs.