Source: Los Alamos National Lab
Published: 1996
Author: Los Alamos
Received  05/14/2000

Since the 40's, many of the Laboratory's operations required hazardous chemicals and radioactive materials such as plutonium and uranium. Use of these materials resulted in the contamination of  facilities, and in some cases, of the surrounding environment. A major source of environmental contamination was waste being discharged into the environment or buried in material disposal areas. In addition to hazardous chemicals and radioactive materials, the contaminants of concern include explosive residues, unexploded ordinance, and asbestos. Although it is no longer used, asbestos is generated as a waste during facility modification and decommissioning activities.

FU1/FU2 - The primary constituents of potential concern are radionuclides, volatile organic compounds, and inorganic compounds (including heavy metals).

Field Unit 3 consists of 555 potential release sites associated with ten technical areas. It includes sites where high explosives were developed and processed, initiators for nuclear weapons were tested, and reactor components were developed. The primary constituents of concern are radionuclides, high explosives, volatile and semi-volatile organic compounds, polychlorinated biphenyls, asbestos, pesticides, and herbicides.

Field Unit 4 consists of 260 potential release sites and 19 canyons on the Pajarito Plateau, a reactor site, and various heavily industrialized sites. The primary constituents of potential concern are radionuclides, high explosives, volatile and semi-volatile organic compounds, and inorganics, including heavy metals. Most of the contamination resulted from operations dating from as early as 1944
 

For a more complete report of conatminated sites at Los Alamos go to Los Alamos National Lab

A multichannel color composite satellite image taken Thursday May 11, 2000, shows the serious fire situation occurring just west of Los Alamos, N.M. Firefighters struggled to hold the line against a fire whipped by furious winds that raced through 280 homes and forced 25,000 people from the town where the atomic bomb was built. Photo by NOAA-NESDIS (AP)

Analysis (prior to the fire) of contaminated areas around Los Alamos  -- now turned to cinder with plumes carrying radioactivity.... Click Here

Update Letters/How to Protect

Run-Off Posing Other Possible Dangers

Work to Start on Containing Contaminated Run-Off