St. Louis Advocacy Group Combats Misinformation to Support Radiation Exposure Victims

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St. Louis advocacy group fights misinformation to aid radiation exposure victims

For decades, communities in St. Louis have been dealing with the dangerous legacy of the city’s role in the Manhattan Project. During World War II, Mallinckrodt Chemical Works processed uranium for the first atomic bombs, leaving behind radioactive waste that was improperly stored throughout the region.

Now, a growing network of advocates is working to cut through decades of misinformation and help residents get compensation for radiation-related illnesses.

Just the Moms STL, a grassroots advocacy organization, has been leading efforts to support affected communities. Co-founder Dawn Chapman explains that their work became even more urgent following the 2021 HBO documentary “Atomic Homefront,” which highlighted the radioactive contamination issues in the area.

“After the documentary aired, people started reaching out to us from across the country,” Chapman said. “Many were dealing with similar issues but didn’t know where to turn for help.”

The waste from Mallinckrodt’s uranium processing was dumped at several sites around St. Louis County, including near Coldwater Creek and the West Lake Landfill. Over time, flooding and erosion spread contamination through neighborhoods, exposing unsuspecting residents to radiation.

Federal programs exist to compensate victims of radiation exposure, but navigating the bureaucracy can be overwhelming. The Energy Employees Occupational Illness Compensation Program Act (EEOICPA) and the Radiation Exposure Compensation Act (RECA) offer financial relief, but many eligible residents don’t know they qualify.

“There’s a real information gap,” said Karen Nickel, another co-founder of Just the Moms STL. “People living with cancer and other illnesses don’t realize their conditions might be connected to radiation exposure from decades ago, and they certainly don’t know they might qualify for compensation.”

The advocacy group hosts regular information sessions to help residents understand the compensation programs and application process. These sessions have become increasingly important as more health effects come to light.

Dr. Daniel Petereit, an oncologist specializing in radiation-related illnesses, notes that the health impacts can appear decades after exposure.

“These aren’t just acute radiation effects we’re talking about. Many cancers have a latency period of 20 to 30 years after exposure,” Petereit explained. “That’s why we’re seeing cases emerge now from contamination that happened in the 1940s and ’50s.”

The Environmental Protection Agency has been working to clean up contaminated sites in St. Louis, with remediation efforts at the West Lake Landfill expected to cost over $200 million. However, advocates argue that cleanup efforts don’t address the human cost of past exposure.

Just the Moms STL has helped hundreds of residents file claims, with some receiving compensation of up to $150,000 plus medical benefits. But they estimate thousands more may be eligible and unaware.

The advocacy work has also highlighted environmental justice concerns. Many of the most contaminated areas are in lower-income communities with less access to healthcare and legal resources.

“This is a clear case where people’s zip codes have determined their exposure to environmental hazards,” said environmental justice researcher Dr. Maria Wilson. “The communities near these waste sites have carried an unfair burden of this nuclear legacy.”

Recent legislative efforts have sought to expand RECA to include more downwinders and uranium workers. Senator Josh Hawley recently introduced legislation that would specifically include St. Louis area residents affected by Manhattan Project contamination.

“These families have suffered for generations because of work their community did to help win World War II,” Hawley said. “The federal government has a moral obligation to make this right.”

As cleanup efforts continue, Just the Moms STL plans to expand their outreach to ensure more victims receive the compensation they deserve. They’re also working with health departments to track cancer clusters and other illness patterns in affected areas.

“This isn’t just about money,” Chapman emphasized. “It’s about acknowledgment of what happened here and ensuring that people get the medical care they need. Many of these families have been dealing with multiple cancer diagnoses, and they shouldn’t have to face that financial burden alone.”