How America’s push for the atomic bomb spawned enduring radioactive waste problems in St. Louis

Newly public documents are showing how America’s push for the atomic bomb helped saddle St. Louis with an enduring radioactive waste problem. St. Louis was part of a geographically scattered national effort to build the first nuclear bomb. The Associated Press examined hundreds of pages of internal memos, inspection reports and other items dating to the early 1950s. They show that radioactive material was handled at times with nonchalance and indifference that created pockets of contamination. Some residents worry about the affects to this day. One expert said the nuclear program’s secrecy allowed bad practices to continue for too long.