Dayton Daily News investigation found #contamination, sick workers at #PiketonOhio plant
By Lynn Hulsey
May 15, 2019
"A polluted former #UraniumEnrichment plant in #Piketon closed years ago but it's impact continues to resonate through the community, including this week when a #MiddleSchool was closed after traces of radioactive #neptunium were found at an air monitoring station at the school.
"Contamination with radiation and multiple toxic substances at the former Portsmouth Gaseous Diffusion Plant led to an ongoing, multibillion dollar environmental cleanup and sickened plant workers who had to fight for compensation as they battled debilitating terminal illnesses related to their years at the plant.
"A massive 2006 investigation by the Dayton Daily News found five plumes of poisoned #groundwater, contamination with radiation, #beryllium, polychlorinated biphenyls (#PCBs) and #asbestos.
"The investigation found lax safety practices, routine mishandling of toxic and #radioactive material and at least 400 accidental releases of #UraniumGas or toxic fluorine. Toxins were dumped into unlined #landfills and ditches and leached into #groundwater and the Little #BeaverCreek, a tributary of the #SciotoRiver.
"The plant was operated by the federal government and contractors from 1954 to 2001 and enriched uranium to high levels for #NuclearWeapons and #NuclearSubmarines and to lower levels for #nuclearpowerplants.
Read more:
https://www.daytondailynews.com/news/state--regional/2006-investigation-found-contamination-sick-workers-piketon-plant/AZkEGlITaQEu97Sb91duGN/
