Elevated Plutonium Levels Near Los Alamos Similar to That Of Chornobyl

A recent study has revealed that soil, plants, and water around Los Alamos, New Mexico—where the atomic bomb was first developed—show extreme concentrations of plutonium. These findings are drawing parallels with the notorious Chornobyl nuclear disaster site in Ukraine.

Source: KRQE/YouTube

Michael Ketterer, a scientist at Northern Arizona University and the study’s lead researcher, reported that the plutonium levels in Acid Canyon near Los Alamos are among the highest he has encountered in publicly accessible areas across the United States during his extensive career. According to Ketterer, these radioactive isotopes are “hiding in plain sight,” and the situation is “one of the most shocking” he has ever encountered.

This alarming discovery comes as the US Department of Defense plans to increase production of plutonium pits at Los Alamos. Concurrently, the US Senate has passed a defense bill that extends funding for victims of governmental radioactive waste exposure—though, notably, the Los Alamos area is excluded from these benefits.

Historically, the Los Alamos National Laboratory discharged radioactive waste into Acid Canyon until 1963. Despite extensive remediation efforts in the decades following, which reportedly cost at least $2 billion, concerns persist. The area, now a popular trail for outdoor enthusiasts, meets federal cleanup standards, but the presence of plutonium poses ongoing environmental risks. Ketterer emphasizes that while the immediate danger to trail users is low, the potential for plutonium to enter water supplies and the food chain remains a significant concern.

Public health advocates are urging the government to provide clear signage at the site to inform visitors of the contamination. Despite these calls for action, the Department of Energy maintains that the plutonium levels are “very low and well within the safe exposure range.”

Supporting this study, Nuclear Watch New Mexico has conducted its own research, mapping extensive plutonium presence in the region. These findings underscore the long-term environmental challenges posed by a substance with a half-life of 24,000 years. Tina Cordova from the Tularosa Basin Downwinders Consortium commented on the inefficiency of the original Trinity bomb testing, which left a “terrible legacy” of unreacted plutonium that continues to affect the area.

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