The St. Louis County Department of Public Health issued a Public Health Warning on October 2, 2025 about historic radiation exposure linked to Coldwater Creek in north St. Louis County.
The alert urges residents to get appropriate health screenings, check RECA (Radiation Exposure Compensation Act) eligibility, and gather records that prove residency, school, or work in impacted areas.
Who Is Affected And Why
Decades-old waste from the Manhattan Project contaminated parts of Coldwater Creek and nearby sites. People who lived, worked, or attended school in defined areas of North St. Louis County, St. Louis City, or St. Charles County may face elevated risks for certain radiation-linked cancers.
The new county alert highlights updated risk estimates and the availability of federal compensation.
Latest Cancer Risk Figures
County health officials point to increased risks among residents from RECA-impacted ZIP codes: roughly +44% higher risk of lung cancer, +40% higher risk of kidney cancer, and an +18% higher overall cancer risk compared with the general population…