Coldwater Creek (Missouri River)

Coldwater Creek is a tributary of the Missouri River in St. Louis County in the U.S. state of Missouri. It is known for having been contaminated with radioactive wastes.

Location

The creek runs through the towns of Florissant, Hazelwood, Black Jack, Spanish Lake, St. Ann, Berkeley and Ferguson, Missouri.[1] According to St. Louis Magazine, "It runs past schools, golf courses, and soccer fields."[1]

Recent history

During World War II, Mallinckrodt, Inc., was under contract with the United States Department of Defense to process uranium for the Manhattan Project.[1][2] Mallinckrodt stored uranium, which may have contaminated the creek.[1][2]

In August 2015, the United States Army Corps of Engineers admitted they had found thorium-230 in the creek.[3] In January 2016, the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention investigated the high rate of cancers in the area.[2]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Hartmann, Ray (May 22, 2013). "The Poisoned Children of Coldwater Creek: St. Louis' nuclear legacy may be graver than anyone knows.". St. Louis Magazine. Retrieved January 2, 2016.
  2. 1 2 3 Eleftheriou-Smith, Loulla-Mae (October 28, 2015). "Coldwater Creek, St Louis: The area of Missouri under investigation after 'unusual' numbers of rare cancers found". The Independent. Retrieved January 2, 2016.
  3. ↑ Barker, Jacob (August 19, 2015). "Army Corps confirms radioactive contamination in yards by Coldwater Creek". St. Louis Post-Dispatch. Retrieved January 2, 2016.

Coordinates: 38°49′54″N 90°13′08″W / 38.83166°N 90.21894°W / 38.83166; -90.21894


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