Many people in Missouri are worried about their health in St. Louis and surrounding areas. In the 1940’s waste from uranium procession that took place in St. Louis was stored above ground near St. Louis airport. The waste was not properly stored so it seeped into the ground and Coldwater Creek where many children play.
Later, the waste was improperly disposed of in the West Lake Landfill and it remains there today. Some feel that the Environmental Protection Agency failed to properly test the landfill according to officials fighting for Missouri.
Some Federal health investigators have found an increased cancer risk for those who, as children, played in a creek contaminated with uranium waste. Jana Elementary school closed last year because of radiation concerns and pressure from officials.
U.S. Sen. Josh Hawley, R-Mo., and U.S. Rep. Cori Bush, D-St. Louis, have introduced legislation that would require testing of all Hazelwood School district facilities for radioactive materials, and would create a fund to pay for school districts to do more testing and build new schools if necessary. Hawley’s bill passed the Senate unanimously however neither bill has passed the House
Senator Hawley said he would introduce legislation that would make the federal government responsible for medical bills covering cancer, autoimmune viruses or genetic disorders because of exposure to radioactive contamination. The government already provides funds for workers at nuclear weapons production facilities who have suffered from certain cancers, or their survivors