Advocates argue that more individuals who were exposed to Manhattan Project chemicals should receive compensation.

Advocates argue that more individuals should receive compensation under the Radiation Exposure Compensation Act, which has aided those affected by toxins from decades-old nuclear weapons tests.

The law, initially passed in 1990 and set to expire this year, offers compensation for individuals who may have developed specific cancers and illnesses due to the atomic bomb construction process.

During the Manhattan Project and the Cold War era, the government's nuclear program was made possible by workers who mined uranium. These workers were exposed to nuclear radiation but were not compensated.

Between 1945 and 1962, the U.S. carried out approximately 200 atmospheric nuclear weapons tests. Numerous individuals were employed for uranium mining in the West, while others worked at testing sites. However, the Radiation Exposure Compensation Act did not cover all workers, specifically those who labored in refineries and other locations.

Hawley stated that the victims have never received compensation from the government for the harm they suffered due to government exposure.

Hawley is striving to increase and broaden payments in regions such as Alaska, Kentucky, Tennessee, and his home state of Missouri.

"We were unaware of the extent of the government's nuclear processing and radiation tests," Hawley stated. "The government has exposed them, resulting in illnesses. This legislation aims to provide medical treatment and cost assistance to help them recover or be compensated for their sacrifice to the country."

Manhattan Project chemicals have been exposed to a greater extent in St. Louis than just the areas where they were refined and tested.

During the Manhattan Project era, the government failed to properly dispose of the waste from the uranium processing facility in St. Louis.

Some chemicals that workers took to three different locations over several years were found to have leaked into a creek that runs through North County, St. Louis, according to documents.

Karen Nickel, founder of Just Moms STL, stated that she has lupus, psoriatic arthritis, and other autoimmune diseases, in addition to her children also suffering from illnesses linked to radioactive waste in the area where they grew up and raised their kids.

Nickel stated that lupus is an environmental trigger and is linked to some radiation.

Missouri State Rep. Chantelle Nickson-Clark, a Democrat, is a two-time breast cancer survivor from a family with a history of cancer. She believes that environmental exposure may have contributed to her illnesses.

Nickson-Clark stated that, according to data, there is no concrete evidence. Given that cancer has affected his family extensively, he believes that [chemical exposure] is a contributing factor.

Nickel and Nickson-Clark resided near Coldwater Creek, which has been found to contain radioactive chemicals in the water that have spread to the creek beds.

Nickel remarked, "This isn't just a small creek; it's more like a miniature river."

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's 2019 health assessment revealed that exposure to the creek may have increased the likelihood of certain cancer development.

""For years, I've been advocating for the Army Corps to conduct more testing along the floodplain," Hawley stated."

Before the danger was determined, the creek was a frequent playground.

In the 1950s, people constructed homes in that area, creating a pleasant suburban environment, according to Hawley.

Nickel stated that her parents opted to reside in the neighborhood due to its family-friendly environment.

Nickel remembered that there were many children in the neighborhood and they spent their days playing in the park from sunrise to sunset.

Nickel stated that her family and she have experienced illnesses for several decades.

Nickel stated that the number of people passing away from rare cancers and other illnesses, as well as the prevalence of autoimmune diseases, is astronomical.

Nickel and Dawn Chapman, neighbors in the area, have collaborated to learn more about radioactive waste. They established their organization, Just Moms STL, to educate others about the toxic sites in their neighborhood.

"Unlike Karen, I didn't grow up in this area," Chapman remarked. "It was astonishing to witness the number of sick individuals, and then, in contrast, to reflect on my hometown where there is no such issue."

Both Chapman and Nickel purchased homes near one of the sites where radioactive waste would eventually be found. Neither woman was aware of the presence of the waste until an underground fire ignited near the site.

As the fire burns longer, the ground beneath it becomes increasingly unstable, allowing it to move more easily, and we are running out of time to stop it.

In 2013, she discovered the fire at the West Lake Landfill.

"She said, 'I had been smelling something for a little while, kind of like when you cut an onion. That's what our eyes were doing. That's what it felt like, like this very intense burning. It was like, 'Oh, my God. What's happening to me?'"

Chapman said she called the Natural Resources Department.

Chapman stated that he began discussing the Manhattan Project and the presence of radioactive waste, and he was worried that the fire would reach it.

The fire, which has been burning for more than a decade, has been contained by crews who installed an isolation barrier to keep the waste separate from the flames.

According to Bob Jurgens, EPA Region 7 Superfund and Emergency Management division director, the system that was installed captures some smoke and other particles, and then runs them through a treatment system. As a result, there is currently no human exposure to these substances.

The cleanup of sites such as West Lake Landfill and Coldwater Creek has been questioned by many residents and lawmakers due to its prolonged duration. Additionally, there have been ongoing demands for compensation for those who have become ill after residing near these sites.

""These working people are the heroes of this story, as the government has imposed hardships on them," Hawley said."