Uranium
Uranium is a naturally occurring element found ubiquitously in rock, soil, and water. It is often mined and processed because a certain type of uranium is useful in making fuel for nuclear power plants. While uranium is present in low levels in all rock, soil, and water, people can be exposed to high levels if they live near facilities that mine, process, or dispose of it. If uranium from these activities enters groundwater, people in surrounding areas can be exposed to it in their drinking water. When uranium is present in high concentrations in the soil, vegetables – especially root vegetables like potatoes and turnips – absorb this uranium, and people can be exposed by eating these vegetables.
Uranium is dangerous to human health because it is radioactive, meaning its atoms are unstable and will decay over time. This process of radioactive decay produces radiation, a type of energy which can cause cell death, organ failure, and cancer. Because of this radiation, uranium exposure causes broken bones and kidney damage. Effects of uranium exposure on children may be more severe because their bodies are growing. The Environmental Protection Agency has determined that uranium probably causes cancer in humans.
In addition to these direct effects of uranium exposure, when uranium emits radiation it is converted into an element called thorium, which causes lung damage and cancer. Thorium then emits radiation and is converted into an element called radium, which can cause bone, blood, liver, and breast cancer. Radium then emits radiation and is converted into an element called radon, which is also dangerous. This process of radioactive decay continues on to produce more chemicals that harm human health.
A large amount of radioactive waste was generated from uranium processing during the Manhattan Project, the US military’s program to develop the first nuclear weapon. In 1973, radioactive toxic waste from the Manhattan Project was illegally dumped into the Westlake Landfill in Bridgeton, Missouri. After an underground fire began at a neighboring landfill in 2012, Bridgeton residents began reporting strong odors from the site, and it was only then that they became aware of the toxic radioactive waste at the site.
The grassroots group Just Moms STL works to educate the community and fight for comprehensive cleanup of this radioactive waste. Just Moms STL has brought national attention to the site, forced increased transparency from government agencies, and won a $253 million cleanup of the Westlake site. In 2025, the communities near the Westlake site were recognized under the Radiation Exposure Compensation Act (RECA). RECA provides compensation or medical expenses for people exposed to radiation who develop diseases known to be associated with radiation exposure. This means that the communities near the Westlake site can receive help from the federal government for harm they’ve suffered from this exposure. Just Moms STL is helping eligible members of the community apply for these benefits. These are exciting successes towards their goal of a secure and permanent solution to keeping their community safe.
