The recent focus on Christopher Nolan's film "Oppenheimer" has brought attention to the legacies of the Manhattan Project. The creation of the atomic bomb not only initiated a global arms race but also caused widespread public health and environmental damage from nuclear weapons production and testing. One of the sites crucial to the Manhattan Project was the Hanford nuclear site in Washington state, where an enormous, secret industrial facility produced plutonium fuel. Hanford became one of the most contaminated places on Earth, and the cleanup costs are projected to reach up to $640 billion. Nuclear weapons production and testing have harmed public health and the environment in various ways, with fallout reaching many states and communities near test sites being exposed to radioactive contamination. Efforts to compensate those affected by radiation-linked illnesses are ongoing. Hanford is also facing challenges in disposing of its liquid waste and the threat of leaks into the ground, endangering the nearby Columbia River. The culture of governmental secrecy surrounding nuclear weapons activities has had troubling consequences, as exemplified by Hanford's history of deliberate emissions and the difficulty for concerned citizens to access information about health effects. Current atomic weapons facilities, such as Los Alamos National Laboratory, continue to grapple with contamination and safety issues. The legacies of the Manhattan Project highlight the unforeseen and far-reaching consequences of the development of nuclear weapons.
Tue, 01 Aug 2023 12:26:50 GMT | The Conversation Indonesia