Moms Fight to Clean Up Thousands of Tons of Nuclear Waste in St. Louis (Exclusive)

Moms Fight to Clean Up Thousands of Tons of Nuclear Waste in St. Louis (Exclusive)

Honored to be featured this week in @people magazine! @KarenNickelSTL and I are proud of what we have built and our fight, even though it has cost us and our family/kids/husbands so much! https://t.co/nNWjgDa6KX

— Dawn Chapman (@DawnChapmanSTL) August 15, 2024

The first warning sign was the stench that seemed to fill the air of Dawn Chapman’s suburban St. Louis neighborhood in 2012.

“You could smell burning, but there was something different about it, like jet fuel,” she says in this week's issue of PEOPLE. Her three children started to wake in the night with irritated eyes or bloody noses caused, she believes, by the caustic fumes.

By January 2013 Chapman, then a full-time mom, had discovered the source of the overpowering odor: a fire in an underground quarry at the Bridgeton Landfill about two miles from her home.

A photo taken in 1960 shows deteriorating steel drums containing radioactive residue in the St Louis area. 

State Historical Society of Missouri, Kay Drey Mallinsckodt Collection

The blaze raised fresh alarm about a decades-old issue — how much atomic waste had been stored in the region post-World War II, with some radioactive material mixing with a local creek and, separately, 43,000-plus tons of it piling up at West Lake Landfill, which is next to Bridgeton Landfill.

Article continues:

Dawn Chapman (left) and Karen Nickel wear protective masks at the West Lake Landfill outside St. Louis on June 1, 2017. 

Linda Davidson/The Washington Post via Getty

For more on Dawn Chapman and Karen Nickel's fight to clean up nuclear waste in their St. Louis suburb, pick up this week's issue of PEOPLE, on newsstands Friday, or subscribe.

Their suburban dream was tainted by toxic remnants of the country’s wartime past. After the bombing of Pearl Harbor in 1941, the U.S. chose St. Louis as one of the places to process the uranium used in the nation’s atomic weapons program the Manhattan Project.

In the decades that followed, the resulting radioactive waste was dumped close to the city airport, and contaminants washed into nearby Coldwater. In the ’70s the waste was moved to the West Lake Landfill, amid single-family homes in Bridgeton. In 1990 the landfill was designated a Superfund site — one of the nation’s most contaminated areas.

Many residents were none the wiser. Nickel grew up in the ’60s and ’70s playing softball in the parks beside Coldwater, where years later scientists would discover Manhattan Project-era radioactive material in the soil.

Nickel and Chapman (center, in Washington, D.C., in May) lobbying for support for what they say are victims of radioactive exposure. 

Just Moms STL

“Fifteen people on my street passed from rare cancer in their 40s and 50s,” she says.

Three of her four adult children, whom she raised with husband Todd in a house less than two miles from the landfill, live with neurodevelopmental challenges, she says. And Nickel has lupus, an autoimmune disease she blames on exposure to radioactivity.

Chapman and her husband, Brian, moved to the Bridgeton area in 2000, unaware of the history. In 2002 her husband learned he had Crohn’s disease.

continues: https://people.com/is-nuclear-waste-poisoning-this-missouri-suburb-how-2-moms-teamed-up-for-answers-even-if-they-die-trying-8695532

Microbe Bacteria DIOXIN Remediation

this was a @EPA and @DeptofDefense funded research project in Vietnam for Dioxin and Agent Orange remediation/soil reclamation. aka the EPA knows there are solutions avail to help in the #OhioChernobyl https://t.co/mMcCJWgnfg

— systembuster (@stlsystembuster) February 26, 2023

 Ohio Trainwreck Bioremediation Soil Treatment Research

JOINT STUDY OF BIOREMEDIATION AT PILOT SCALE FOR DETOXIFICATION OF HERBICIDE/DIOXIN IN DA NANG HOT SPOT, VIETNAM

Dang TCH1, Allen H2, Nguyen BH1, Fong V2, Dam TH1, Nguyen NQ1, Nguyen QH1, Phung KHC3, Dao TNA1 

Institute of Biotechnology, Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology (VAST);  

US Environment Protection Agency (EPA); Military Institute of Chemical and Environmental Research, MOD Vietnam

https://dioxin20xx.org/wp-content/uploads/pdfs/2010/10-1689.pdf

Introduction

Biodegradation of tetrachloro dibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) has been reported in the scientific literature, in the laboratory, and in pilot studies. From 1999 to 2009, Vietnamese researchers conducted several studies to detoxify heavily contaminated soil in the former Da Nang military base1

. 

Full-scale bioremediation of 3,384 m3 of dioxin contaminated soil was demonstrated in Bien Hoa, Vietnam, in 2009. Several international scientific work groups have concluded that bioremediation is the most environmentally responsible and cost-effective remedy for cleaning up Agent Orange residues at the former air bases in Vietnam.

More than 30 years after the US-Vietnam War, spilled Agent Orange defoliant solution containing traces of the dioxins, TCDD and octachloro dibenzo-p-dioxin (OCDD), 2,4,5-T, 2,4-D, and chlorophenols (TCP and DCP) remains in the soil and in lake sediment affected by contaminated soil, which had been carried by runoff from the former military airbase in Da Nang2 . Natural attenuation of the herbicides and dioxins has not been effective in detoxifying the soil or sediment. 

This first joint study by Vietnamese and American researchers was conducted to

demonstrate whether the soil in Da Nang can be bioremediated effectively using aerobic or anaerobic microbial processes. This study also sought to provide engineering design guidance to support the selection of either an aerobic or an anaerobic amendment recipe and an operating strategy to optimize biological treatment. 

Conclusions Aerobic bioremediation is capable of significantly reducing TCDD toxicity (p=0.0026). Bioaugmentation with small amounts of treated soil or contaminated sediment may be effective for anaerobic treatment. However, if suitable growth conditions are provided, the indigenous microbes in the mixed soil and sediment at Da Nang appear capable of degrading TCDD without adding another source of microbes. Anaerobic bioremediation rate is about half the rate of aerobic treatment, but the results are not as significant (p=0.25). From our of point active landfill containing both aerobic and anaerobic degradation become feasible resolution for detoxification of heavy herbicide/dioxin in full scale in Vietnam. 

Bioremediation is recognized as a “Green Technology,” which has a very low energy requirement and produces few emissions. Bioremediation is a permanent solution which produces a soil which can be returned to beneficial use. Knowledge gained from this project by both Vietnamese and US scientists will allow for design of customized recipes suitable for addressing dioxin and other persistent organic pollution problems throughout Vietnam and elsewhere 

@EPA Own Publications explained how to deal with #Ohio Chemical Incineration > U.S. Congress, Office of Technology Assessment, Dioxin Treatment Technologies Background Paper, OTA-BP-O-93 (Washington, DC: U.S. Government printing Office) pic.twitter.com/2VDdPloAYg

— systembuster (@stlsystembuster) February 26, 2023

This type of Incinerator is very similar to the #Downdraft #Gasifer Offgrid Hot Water and Hot Air system I designed and shared months ago. https://t.co/Im01RKt8uo pic.twitter.com/jGsSxS4aor

— systembuster (@stlsystembuster) February 26, 2023

#OhioChernobyl Research Files https://t.co/h1F8Khg5h6 to cleanup the #chemicals

This research paper from 1991 from the EPA CluIn Files for #Dioxin Incineration System provides a Diagram source file:
Dioxin Treatment Technologies
November 1991 OTA-BP-O-93 NTIS order PB92-152511 pic.twitter.com/VPsyW4ZqW1

— systembuster (@stlsystembuster) February 26, 2023

Green Remediation Best Management Practices: Bioremediation

Green Remediation Best Management Practices: Bioremediation” fact sheet (EPA 542-F-10-006)

This fact sheet update- in collaboration with the Greener Cleanups Subcommittee of the U.S. EPA Technical Support Project’s Engineering Forum.

To view BMP fact sheets on other topics, visit CLU-IN Green Remediation Focus: www.clu-in.org/greenremediation

 web link: Green Remediation Google Doc Converted File 

References quoted in the document: 

• 1 U.S. EPA. Greener Cleanups. Principles for Greener Cleanups. https://www.epa.gov/greenercleanups 
• 2 U.S. EPA. Engineering Issue: In Situ and Ex Situ Biodegradation Technologies for Remediation of Contaminated Sites. EPA/625/R-06/015. October 2006. https://clu-in.org/download/contaminantfocus/dnapl/Treatment_Technologies/epa_2006_engin_issue_bio.pdf 
• 3 U.S. Geological Survey. Phytoforensics – Using Trees to Find Contamination. Fact Sheet 2017–3076. September 2017. https://pubs.usgs.gov/fs/2017/3076/fs20173076.pdf 
• 4 U.S. EPA. Green Remediation Best Management Practices: An Overview. EPA 542-F-16-001. December 2015 update. https://cluin.org/greenremediation/docs/GR_BMP_factsheet_overview.pdf 
• 5 Interstate Technology and Regulatory Council. Optimizing Injection Strategies and In situ Remediation Performance. https://ois-isrp-1.itrcweb.org/ 
• 6 U.S. EPA. Bay Road Holdings LLC (formerly Romic Environmental Technologies Corporation). https://www.epa.gov/ca/bay-road-holdings-llc-formerly-romicenvironmental-technologies-corporation 
• 7 U.S. EPA. Spreadsheets for Environmental Footprint Analysis. https://clu-in.org/greenremediation/SEFA 
• 8 U.S. Department of Agriculture. BioPreferred Program Catalog: Intermediates – Lubricant Components. https://www.biopreferred.gov/BioPreferred/faces/catalog/Catalog.xhtml 
• 9 U.S. EPA. CLU-IN Green Remediation Focus. Profiles: Camp Lejeune Military Reservation. https://clu-in.org/greenremediation/profiles/camplejeune 
• 10 U.S. EPA. CLU-IN Green Remediation Focus. Profiles: Re-Solve Inc. https://clu-in.org/greenremediation/profiles/resolveinc

Remedy Protectiveness and Climate Resilience in Site Cleanups: Policies, Guidance and Implementation Tools As of November 8, 2021 A product of the Fall 2021 meeting of the Federal Remediation Technologies Roundtable (Google Doc web link: Information in this summary is current up to November 8, 2021)

The Conference is designed for and presented by scientists, engineers, regulators,
remediation site owners, constructors, and other environmental professionals
representing universities, government agencies, consultants, and R&D and service
firms from around the world. 

 

The program will reflect the growing body of knowledge about better ways to manage contaminated sediment systems.

The Sediments Conference series is a forum for sharing research results, practical

experiences, and opportunities associated with investigating, remediating, and

restoring the environmental and economic vitality of waterways. Managing these

aquatic systems requires complex actions that affect a diverse group of stakeholders

and touch a wide range of environmental, economic, political and social issues

Microbe Remediation Webinar.

STL Bioremediation and Erosion Control

Those black snake looking net tubes that are used to control erosion are also bioremediation filters.

These images are from the same  area of StLouis with the 3 Basin Water Pollution and Filtration setup that cleans pollution from water runoff from a stlouis city street and building parking lots.

Here's some close up images showing how well these dentrifying bioremediation systems work when placed at or near ground level.







The erosion control filters are performing an outstanding job.

Notice the uphill side in the images above, the soil and organic matter is building up? This proves the filters are trapping the soil runnoff before it travels into the waterway below.

Yes those are wood chips in the black snake netting

This also means any contaminants in the water runnoff are also filtered in this modified dentrifying biofilter.

StL Plants As Water Protectors

Recently I was in a suburb of StLouis City and happened across this 3 Basin Water Pollution and Filtration setup that cleans pollution from water runoff from a stlouis city street and building parking lots.

Bioremediation and Phytoremediation are the 2 forms of water pollution filtration and cleanup used in this real life St.Louis example. The microbes are the workhorses with this bioremediation system.

A site inspection revealed a 3 level catch basin design. Each catch basin draining into the "downhill" basin below. Each water catch basin also appears to be geared for different contaminant and toxin removal.

Middle Water Filtration Catch Basin

Middle Water Filtration Catch Basin

Upper Water Filtration Catch Basin

Gravel Base Middle Basin

small gravel bioremediation filtration

Each water basin allows the time needed for the toxins and contaminants the opportunity to mingle and the microbes and plant roots. 

This allows the microbes a homebase to feast and break down the contaminants and plant roots the time needed to phytoextract contaminants.

The middle basin with the gravel base is very similar to how a sand filtration system works in a fish tank. The gravel and rocks provide a safe home for the microbes to thrive.

The microbes are the workhorses with this bioremediation system.

Denitrifying Bioreactor

Dentrifying Bioreactors  information, designs, tips, best use  and information.

What is a woodchip bioreactor?

Purdue University

https://engineering.purdue.edu/watersheds/conservationdrainage/bioreactors.html
Bioreactors are essentially subsurface trenches filled with a carbon source, mainly wood chips, through which water is allowed to flow just before leaving the drain to enter a surface water body. The carbon source in the trench serves as a substrate for bacteria that break down the nitrate through denitrification or other biochemical processes. Bioreactors provide many advantages:

• They use proven technology
• They require no modification of current practices
• No land needs to be taken out of production
• There is no decrease in drainage effectiveness
• They require little or no maintenance
• They last for up to 20 years.

How do bioreactors work? Organisms from the soil colonize the woodchips. Some of them break down the woodchips into smaller organic particles. Others “eat” the carbon produced by the woodchips, and “breathe” the nitrate from the water. Just as humans breathe in oxygen and breathe out carbon dioxide, these microorganisms breathe in nitrate and breathe out nitrogen gas, which exits the bioreactor into the atmosphere. Through this mechanism, nitrate is removed from the tile water before it can enter surface waters.
Understanding Woodchip Bioreactors
Designing and Constructing Bioreactors to Reduce Nitrate Loss from Subsurface Drains (Illinois, tri-fold format)
Woodchip Bioreactors for Nitrate in Agricultural Drainage (Iowa, 4 pages. Click "Download" in blue table.)
"Evaluating Denitrifying Bioreactors" - On the Ground with the Leopold Center (Video from Iowa, 2:35)
Bioreactors: Benefits and Potential Challenges" - Iowa Learning Farms Webinar (Video recording from Iowa)
Design Information
Denitrifying Bioreactor (Code 747)NRCS Interim Conservation Practice Standard in Iowa and Indiana. Iowa Statement of Work
Interactive routine that can be used to determine size, cost and evaluate performance of a bioreactor installed in a field with a specified soil and county in Illinois: 
http://www.wq.illinois.edu/dg/Equations/Bioreactor.exe.
Financial Incentives
Denitrifying Bioreactors are eligible for financial assistance through the NRCS Environmental Quality Incentives Program, Where the conservation practice standard has been accepted, financial assistance is often available through EQIP. In Indiana, the incentive is $5800. Incentives in Iowa

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2019 R&D ElectroHemp

ElectroHemp is preparing for R&D Projects that will highlight how their system speeds up contamination removal and organically disposes hazardous waste.

• Phytoremediation Assisted Contamination Cleanup
• Organic Hazardous Waste Disposal
• Turning Hazardous Waste into income
• Soil and Water Buffer Zones
• Phytoremediation Rafts for water cleanup and remediation 

If you or your organization would like to join in, partner, sponsor, advertise, or just learn more about the R&D projects use the contact form, subscribe to the blog feed or stay tuned by monitoring the blog.

 ElectroHemp Feed

Reduction of Uranium

...the reduction of uranium was done by quantifying the fraction of uranium in both the soluble and insoluble pools. 

• Uranium in the cultures spiked to 3 μM shifted from ~90% soluble at the T0 time point for all 3 concentrations to 70–97% insoluble by the end of the 24 day incubations (Fig 3). 
• A mass balance indicated that 93–102% of the added uranium could be accounted for in the soluble/insoluble pools. 
• Interestingly, the bacterium also reduced uranium as efficiently at 5 and 10 μM concentration (up to 97%-S2 Fig). 
• However, the percent of soluble uranium at the T0 sampling time point was 78% for the 5 μM and 18% for the 10 μM treatments. Presumably, the bacteria were stimulated by the prior exposure to uranium during transfer and began reducing the radionuclide before the T0 samples could be collected. link