Bridgeton, MO is a suburb community in the northwestern part of St. Louis. This area was affected mostly by the West Lake Landfill in Bridgeton. Illegal dumping of nuclear waste took place here by a private company in the 1970s. This same landfill is the one with a current underground fire still burning. If the fire comes in contact with the toxic waste that is still there, it could be concerning. Officials say that the fire will never reach the nuclear waste but the fire continues to grow closer. I feel like some effort to stop the fire should have taken place a long time ago. Because of the toxic waste continuing to spread throughout the air, residents smell a bad stench, and higher doses of radon have been detected in this area.

Florissant, MO, has been significantly affected by Cold Water Creek due to the radioactive contamination from the Manhattan Project. When portions of the creek were covered to build subdivisions, the radioactive waste that had been deposited along it soaked into the soil. Residents who lived or played close to the creek, especially in the Cades Cove subdivision, have been found to be at higher risk for cancer as a result of this contamination. Different types of cancer have been a result of  the contamination, as well as ongoing federal investigations, soil sampling, and calls for a comprehensive cleanup effort. 

Spanish Lake is one of the many, many, neighborhoods that were affected by Cold Water Creek contamination. Many of the residents within this neighborhood, as well as various others, had no idea they were living on radioactive land that was slowly poisoning them. Spanish Lake is considered dangerous to live in due to the spread of mold, contaminated water, and increased flood rates from Cold Water Creek. Cold Water Creek continuously floods this area in North St. Louis spreading radioactive materials from nearby dumping sites. There is an increase risk of cancer as well as other diseases/conditions (some being rare) within this area. 

Spanish Lake is near the last part of Cold Water Creek before the creek runs into the Missouri River, causing a larger issue for flooding with both sources of water being so close. If Cold Water Creek is contaminated with radioactive waste, it has most likely flown into the Missouri River, causing a larger threat for those around. Spanish Lake is still affected to this day as clean-up efforts have been very slow and are expected to continue through 2038.

Along with the areas listed above Hazelwood Missouri, specifically Jana Elementary in Hazelwood was also greatly affected by radioactive waste found on the school property. 

In 2016 the Army Corps of Engineers starting testing the soil around Jana Elementary after radioactive waste was found near by. Covid delayed the process of test and in 2022 the Corps notified the district of contaminates around the school but the risk was not immediate. The school board decided to not tell parents. Later in 2022 the information started to come to light and parents became concerned. The amount contaminates reached a certain threshold and radioactive lead was found in several areas inside the school. 

In October of 2022 the district decided to move students to virtual learning until there was a cleanup of the school property. Students were eventually moved to other schools. In 2023 an act was passed calling for federal cleanup of the school. 

Of the areas we have discussed, there are still many areas that haven't been named. Since Cold Water creek is 19 miles long and terminates into the Missouri River many places along both waterways are left with the lasting affects of the radioactive contamination. 

In St. Louis City most areas that are affected are directly linked to the Mallinckrodt Chemical works, this includes North Riverfront (63102) and other areas located adjacent to North Riverfront (63147). 

In St. Louis County the areas affected are linked to Cold Water Creek itself, Latty Avenue where radioactive contaminated waste was moved and then stored here in Hazelwood, and West Lake Landfill. Neighborhoods in St. Louis County that are left with the lasting impacts of Cold Water Creek and the contamination produced from the Manhattan project are: 

• Berkeley, Black Jack, Brekenridge Hills, Bridgeton Terrace, Burke City, Calverton Park, Champ, Earth City, Edmunson, Ferguson, Kinloch, Lambert Airport, Maryland Heights, Overland, Robertson, Saint Ann, Saint John

In St. Charles County areas are affected by the uranium processing and transportation routes used from when the Mallinckrodt Plant moved from downtown STL to Weldon Springs. These locations are affected due to the change in location of the processing plant:

• Cottleville, Dardenne Prairie, Dardenne, Defiance, Lake St. Louis, Matson, O'Fallon, St. Peters, and Weldon Springs