Hazardous Substance Research Centers/South & Southwest

Site description

The Paducah Gaseous Diffusion Plant (PGDP), a Department of Energy uranium-enrichment facility in Paducah, KY, is listed on EPA's National Priorities List. According to EPA information, the plant has generated hazardous, non-hazardous, and radioactive wastes, including PCBs, volatile organic compounds, technetium-99, and multiple isotopes of uranium.

Organization requesting assistance

Active Citizens for Truth (ACT) Paducah, KY

Summary of TOSC assistance (through September, 2005)

ACT has asked for TOSC assistance in two specific areas:

1. Understanding sampling results from the Garden Project performed in Summer 2004
The Garden Project tested garden produce for chemicals, metals, and radionuclides. The EPA Environmental Justice grant program funded the testing, and potential contaminants were chosen from chemicals identified by an Agency for Toxic Substances Disease Registry (ATSDR) Public Health Assessment completed in May 2002. Among the garden produce tested were broccoli, pumpkins, turnip greens, strawberries, potatoes, eggplant, cabbage, and cucumbers. Analysis was conducted for arsenic, cadmium, chromium, antimony, PCBs, uranium, and plutonium, among others.

2. Evaluation of the plutonium in the Garden Project
TOSC completed its literature review and submitted a report titled, Literature Review of Plutonium Uptake by Plants in September. Initial feedback on the report was positive. Additionally, a Letter of Agreement was completed between ACT and TOSC in August, 2005.