Radioactive contaminants found in stormwater near Missouri landfill

Stormwater from just outside the West Lake Landfill in Bridgeton, Missouri, contains radioactive contaminants, according to an article in the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.

The article states the Missouri Department of Natural Resources found levels of alpha particles that exceeded the threshold allowed in drinking water.

Because the stormwater is not a source of drinking water, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency officials say the water does not pose a public health risk. It is only dangerous when ingested.

EPA officials also say as of right now there is no established connection between the radioactivity found in the tests and the landfill's contents. Additional tests are required.

The report says the landfill was a dumping ground for Manhattan Project-era radioactive waste. That waste has been in the process of being cleaned up through the EPA’s superfund program and is partially funded by Republic Services, Phoenix.