a popular park in the united states was exposed to have nuclear radiation comparable to chernobyl, and the u.s. department of energy made a statement
2024-08-31
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in a recent study, michael kettler, a professor at northern arizona university, pointed out that acid canyon, located in the heart of los alamos, new mexico, is seriously contaminated by radioactive waste.
according to reports, "acid canyon" has now become a popular hiking route and has also been marked as a park.
it is reported that los alamos is the birthplace of the us atomic bomb. michael said that after testing, the plutonium concentration contained in the plants, water and soil of the "acid canyon" was "extremely high" and "the degree of contamination was comparable to the chernobyl disaster site."
according to the agency for toxic substances and disease registry (atsdr), a federal public health agency in the united states, plutonium has no natural sources and is a radioactive chemical element that is only produced in nuclear reactors.
however, the us department of energy denied michael's statement and said that the current plutonium radioactivity level at the site is within safety standards.
us scientists warn: plutonium concentration levels here are "comparable to chernobyl"
according to science and technology daily, in 1942, the united states started the manhattan project. j. robert oppenheimer, a professor of physics at the university of california, berkeley and scientific director of the bomb laboratory, suggested moving into los alamos. los alamos national laboratory later became the "cradle" of american nuclear bombs. the laboratory developed a total of three atomic bombs, namely a plutonium bomb detonated at the trinity test site in 1945, as well as "little boy" and "fat man". from 1943 to 1964, the laboratory had been discharging radioactive waste from nuclear tests into a nearby canyon, causing the area to be filled with toxic substances, also known as the "acid canyon."
since then, the u.s. atomic energy commission and the u.s. department of energy have spent at least $2 billion to remediate the local environment. it was not until the 1980s that the united states announced that the environment in the area had met federal standards and could be reopened to the public, and the jurisdiction of the area was transferred back to the local government. the area was later developed and became a popular route for cyclists and hikers.
however, in july this year, michael, in cooperation with the new mexico nuclear energy observatory, went to the "acid canyon" to collect soil, water and vegetation samples. it is understood that july was the rainy season in the area, and when michael took the samples, rainwater was flowing through the "acid canyon". after analyzing the samples, michael concluded that the plutonium concentration in the area was extremely high.
michael, who specializes in tracking chemical radioactive materials, said that he had visited many public areas for investigation and sampling in his decades of career, but the plutonium concentration level in the "acid canyon" is the highest level he has ever seen. "the plutonium concentration level here is comparable to that at the chernobyl nuclear disaster site," he said.
the u.s. department of energy responded: the canyon is safe and can be put into use normally
michael said that while outdoor enthusiasts may not face immediate danger when traveling through sour canyon, local officials should warn people to avoid contact with water flowing through sour canyon.
he said his concerns now are: residual radioactive materials may cause harm to the coast through water currents; if plants are contaminated with radioactive materials, the contaminated plants may enter the food supply chain; if a fire occurs in the area, radioactive materials may also drift into the air with the ashes.
public information shows that the late physicist john goffman once called plutonium "the king of hell." studies have found that plutonium can cause lung cancer, liver cancer and bone cancer in people who come into contact with it.
in response to michael's research results, the u.s. department of energy said in a statement to the media that the plutonium concentration in "acid canyon" is very low and completely within the safe range, and "the canyon is safe and can be put into normal use."
(yangcheng evening news, yangcheng news, red star news, etc.)
