How Manhattan Project Waste Still Affects Health Today
The hidden health costs of atomic achievement revealed through decades of epidemiological research
When the first atomic bomb lit the New Mexico sky in 1945, it heralded not just a scientific triumph but the dawn of an environmental and public health challenge that would span generations. While the world witnessed the destructive power of nuclear weapons, few knew about the less visible legacy—the radioactive waste left behind from the bomb's production.
People employed at peak
Equivalent cost today
Facilities across the US
The Manhattan Project, which employed nearly 130,000 people at its peak and cost nearly $2 billion (equivalent to about $27 billion today), generated substantial amounts of low-level radioactive waste at facilities across the United States 4 . For decades, scientists have been tracking the potential health effects on nearby communities, using the tools of epidemiology to connect environmental contamination with human health outcomes. What they've discovered reveals a complex story of invisible threats, scientific detective work, and ongoing consequences from the atomic age.
Epidemiology provides the essential toolkit for investigating how environmental exposures affect human health. At its core, epidemiology studies the distribution and determinants of health-related states in specific populations, serving as a foundation for public health decision-making and disease prevention 5 .
Researchers characterize health events by time, place, and person, identifying patterns that might indicate a public health issue.
This approach uses statistical methods to test specific hypotheses about what causes health events.
Epidemiologists use different study designs, including cohort studies, case-control studies, and cross-sectional studies 5 .
These methods have been crucial for understanding the health effects of radiation, allowing scientists to move from observing patterns to establishing cause-and-effect relationships.
In the early 1980s, an epidemiological survey was launched to investigate health effects around a former Department of Energy thorium processing and disposal facility that had operated from 1941-1973 under Federal Government contracts 1 . This site had processed monazite sands to extract thorium, and radiological surveys by the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection had identified elevated radiation levels at the site and in the surrounding area 1 6 .
Researchers designed a community-based health survey to systematically assess potential health effects:
The analysis revealed several important patterns, though researchers noted the limited sample size meant results lacked statistical significance for some outcomes:
| Health Outcome | Finding | Statistical Significance |
|---|---|---|
| Overall Cancer | No significant increase | Not significant |
| Miscarriages | No significant increase | Not significant |
| Liver Disease | More prevalent in all case groups | Not statistically significant |
| Jaundice | Higher reported rate | Not statistically significant |
| Birth Defects | Greater for those living closer to the site | Not statistically significant |
| Leukemia | Increased rate | Not statistically significant |
Despite the limitation of a small sample size, the researchers noted "an aggregation of disease incidence" in the study area that merited further investigation 1 . The findings were particularly notable for suggesting that low-level radiation exposure might be associated with health effects beyond cancer—including liver conditions and birth defects—though larger studies would be needed to confirm these relationships.
For decades, evidence linking low-level environmental radiation to health effects remained ambiguous, but a landmark 2024 study published in JAMA Network Open provided stronger evidence. Researchers investigated Coldwater Creek in Missouri, where nuclear waste from the Manhattan Project had been improperly stored in open steel drums next to the waterway .
The innovative study used data from the St. Louis Baby Tooth Survey, which had collected teeth from children born between 1945 and 1966. The researchers had access to addresses of 4,209 tooth donors and investigated their cancer outcomes later in life .
The research also discovered that male participants were more likely to develop cancer than females, suggesting behavioral factors might influence exposure levels—potentially because boys were more likely to play in the contaminated creek . This study provided some of the clearest evidence that low-level environmental radiation exposure from Manhattan Project waste has measurable health consequences decades later.
Studying the health effects of radioactive waste requires specialized methods and materials. Researchers in this field rely on a diverse set of tools to connect environmental contamination with human health outcomes.
| Research Component | Function in Radiation Studies | Specific Examples |
|---|---|---|
| Environmental Surveys | Measure radiation levels in environment | NJDEP radiological surveys of soil and water 1 |
| Biological Sampling | Detect radioactive materials in body | Baby teeth analysis for strontium-90 |
| Health Questionnaires | Gather comprehensive health history | Lifestyle factors, reproductive history, cancer occurrences 1 |
| Dosimetry | Estimate radiation dose to individuals | Urine bioassay, in-vivo measurements 7 |
| Statistical Methods | Analyze relationships between exposure and health | Regression models, risk calculations 5 |
Initial radiation monitoring focused on occupational exposure and acute effects
Development of more sensitive detection methods and long-term cohort studies
Community-based health surveys and environmental monitoring integration
Advanced statistical modeling, biomonitoring, and historical data reanalysis
These tools have evolved over decades of research. For instance, the St. Louis Baby Tooth Survey initially collected teeth to study radioactive fallout from nuclear tests, but decades later, those same teeth became valuable for studying waste exposure . This demonstrates how long-term sample preservation can enable new discoveries as scientific questions evolve.
The epidemiological investigation into the Manhattan Project's radioactive waste reveals a fundamental truth: the atomic age created enduring environmental and health challenges that continue to affect communities decades later. From the early findings in New Jersey to the compelling recent evidence from Missouri, these studies highlight the importance of ongoing surveillance of both contaminated sites and the health of surrounding communities.
Perhaps most importantly, this research has tangible impacts beyond scientific knowledge. The findings from Coldwater Creek contributed to the recent expansion of the Radiation Exposure Compensation Act (RECA), which now provides compensation to families affected by nuclear waste in Missouri and elsewhere . This demonstrates how meticulous scientific research can translate into meaningful justice for affected communities, offering recognition and support to those who have borne the hidden costs of the atomic age.
As cleanup efforts continue at contaminated sites across the country, and as new studies refine our understanding of radiation risks, the legacy of the Manhattan Project continues to unfold. It serves as a powerful reminder that scientific progress must be coupled with environmental responsibility and concern for human health—lessons that remain critically relevant as we confront new environmental challenges today.