Hanford Nuclear Site
The Hanford Nuclear Site has a storied but checkered history, and it is now partially decommissioned. It was established in 1943 in Hanford, Washington, as part of the famed Manhattan Project, and it was responsible for the manufacture of the plutonium used in the first nuclear bomb.
Hanford underwent significant expansion after World War II. During the Cold War, it included nine nuclear reactors and five plutonium processing plants. The plants were so massive that they produced most of the plutonium for all the weapons in the U.S. nuclear arsenal.
During Hanford’s peak years, safety precautions were inadequate. Employees and community members were not properly protected from radioactivity and toxins created by plant reactors. Radioactive materials were released into the air and into the nearby Columbia River. When the reactors were decommissioned during the late 1960s and early 1970s, they left 53 million gallons of high-level radioactive waste, making the Hanford Site the most contaminated nuclear site in the nation.
Those who lived downwind and downriver from the Hanford Project were placed at an increased risk of developing various types of cancer, according to the Washington State Department of Health and the U.S. National Institutes of Health. Numerous studies were conducted on people who worked in or lived near the site, prompting some 2,000 so-called “downwinders” to file suit against the federal government for injuries. Some claims were settled in 2005 and in the years since. Others remain unresolved.
Hanford Nuclear Site and Asbestos
In 1988, it was proposed that the Hanford Nuclear Site be placed on the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA’s) National Priorities List, which resulted in its classification as a Superfund Site. Cleanup is underway, a task shared by the EPA, the Washington Department of Ecology and the U.S. Department of Energy.
Exposure to nuclear waste has caused much concern at Hanford. While radiation was a primary concern, studies showed that some of the same individuals were exposed to large amounts of asbestos as well. Asbestos was one of the best insulators available and was inexpensive. A 2009 study conducted on former construction workers at the Hanford Site, for example, showed that these workers 11 times more likely than the general public to develop mesothelioma. Hanford workers also had an elevated risk of developing multiple myeloma, a type of blood cancer.
Hanford Nuclear Site and Asbestos Litigation
Because of amount of asbestos used at the Hanford Site – and at other nuclear reactor sites – it was common for employees to inhale airborne asbestos particles. These particles can result in the development of a number of asbestos-related diseases including asbestosis and mesothelioma. Victims of exposure are now fighting asbestos product manufacturers in court hoping to gain compensation for their medical expenses, loss of income and pain and suffering.
Resources for Power Plant Workers
If you worked at the Hanford Nuclear Site, you likely were informed of the dangers you faced there as an employee. It’s important to monitor your health in order to quickly catch any signs that mesothelioma may be developing. Periodic testing and medical examinations should be scheduled regularly and your doctor should always be informed of your past exposure to asbestos so that an accurate diagnosis can be made.
If you need assistance finding a testing location or if you’re a mesothelioma patient who needs help locating a specialist in your area, call a Patient Advocate at the Mesothelioma Center at (800) 615-2270. Ask about the Doctor Match Program or fill out the form on this page for more details.
-
05/24/2012 -
One of the biggest asbestos-abatement jobs ever done in Buffalo, New York, is being handled now by a local company with a history of asbestos-related ..
-
05/23/2012 -
A new class of anti-cancer drugs is nearing the clinical trial phase and may eventually be available for treatment of aggressive diseases like pancrea ..
-
05/23/2012 -
School districts all across America have been wrestling in recent years with the task of removing and disposing of toxic asbestos from older buildings ..
© 2012 The Mesothelioma Center |
Last Modified Thursday, February 9th, 2012 | Disclaimer | Privacy Policy |
The information provided by The Mesothelioma Center is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.
Sponsored by a law firm concentrating in asbestos litigation, The Peterson Firm, LLP with offices at 1350 Connecticut Ave, NW, Fifth Floor, Washington DC 20036.
