The Most Toxic Place in America w/ Joshua Frank
Empire Files
Hazards Linger: Radioactive Waste and Time
Significant environmental hazards arise from leaking tanks of highly radioactive waste contaminating the soil and groundwater. Current mitigation efforts, such as covering leaks with tarps, fail to address the underlying issues, as cover solutions are insufficient against long-term radiation risks. Official reassurances about safety over a span of decades overlook the extreme longevity of plutonium's radioactivity, lasting up to 250,000 years, compared to the short history of human existence. The Hanford site, encompassing an area half the size of Rhode Island and heavily polluted for over 60 years, highlights the urgent and unresolved concerns surrounding radioactive waste management.
00:00
Transcript
Play full episode
Remember Everything You Learn from Podcasts
Save insights instantly, chat with episodes, and build lasting knowledge - all powered by AI.
