Hunters Point: Unsettling Radiation Levels and Lingering Doubts

For decades, San Francisco’s Hunters Point Naval Shipyard has been a site of complex cleanup efforts following its history as a nuclear research facility. Recently, residents and city officials were rocked by news of elevated airborne Plutonium-239 levels detected nearly a year prior, raising serious questions about transparency and public safety in the Bayview-Hunters Point community. This revelation reignites concerns about the Navy’s cleanup progress and its commitment to the health of nearby communities.

A Legacy of Nuclear Research and Contamination

The 500-acre Hunters Point peninsula, jutting into San Francisco Bay, served as a crucial military laboratory from 1946 to 1969. Following World War II, it was dedicated to studying the effects of nuclear weapons and decontaminating U.S. warships exposed to atomic bombs. While vital to national defense, this experimentation left significant portions of the shipyard riddled with radioactive contaminants and toxic chemicals.

Designated a U.S. Superfund site, Hunters Point has been undergoing remediation for the past 30 years, with the ultimate goal of redevelopment into new housing and parkland. However, the cleanup process has been fraught with challenges, including accusations of haphazard work and insufficient public engagement from Bay Area community leaders.

The Delayed Plutonium-239 Alert

The most recent alarm was triggered by a November 2024 test at the former shipyard, specifically on a 78-acre tract known as Parcel C. This test revealed airborne Plutonium-239 levels that exceeded the Navy’s established “action level,” signaling a need for further investigation. Plutonium-239 is a radioactive isotope and a dangerous byproduct of nuclear bomb explosions.

Critically, the San Francisco Department of Health and local residents were not informed of this elevated reading until 11 months later. San Francisco Health Officer Susan Philip condemned the delay, stating it “undermines our ability to safeguard public health and maintain transparency,” emphasizing that immediate notification is a regulatory requirement and essential for community trust.

Understanding the Health Risk vs. Community Concern

Navy officials and some health experts have downplayed the immediate health threat, asserting that the detected radiation levels, while above action levels, do not pose an “imminent or substantial” danger. A Navy spokesperson indicated that daily exposure to this level of Plutonium-239 for a year would be less than one-tenth the radiation dose of a single chest X-ray. They stress that regulatory action levels are conservatively set below levels of health concern.

However, the danger of Plutonium-239 lies in inhalation. While alpha radiation is relatively benign outside the body, if inhaled, these radioactive particles can damage the lungs and significantly increase the long-term risk of certain cancers, as noted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Kathryn Higley, a professor of nuclear science at Oregon State University, highlights the concern for alpha emitters once they enter the body.

For the Bayview-Hunters Point neighborhood, this concern is compounded by existing environmental burdens, including high exposure to toxic diesel particles from nearby freeways and cargo ships. Dr. Ahmisa Porter Sumchai, medical director of the Hunters Point Biomonitoring Foundation, stated, “The particulate load is enough to kill people… But you add… a little Plutonium-239, and it’s a recipe for death.”

A History of Mistrust and Falsified Data

The community’s skepticism stems from a troubling history of incidents at Hunters Point:

• In 2000, the EPA criticized Navy officials for failing to inform residents about a fire at a hazardous landfill on the site.
• In 2017, two employees of Tetra Tech, a consulting company hired by the Navy for radiation assessment, pleaded guilty to falsifying data to avoid additional cleanup work.

This pattern of non-transparency and misconduct has severely eroded public trust, making it difficult for residents to accept official reassurances regarding current radiation levels.

Timeline of the Delayed Notification for Elevated Plutonium-239

What Happens Next?

The San Francisco health officer confirmed that while “no immediate action is required from a public health safety standpoint,” her office will continue to closely monitor the situation. Navy officials are expected to attend a Hunters Point Shipyard Citizens Advisory Committee Meeting on November 17, where they will undoubtedly face a concerned public.

For locals, the challenge remains discerning the true extent of the risk and holding authorities accountable for transparent and timely communication. The land itself, largely an empty expanse of grass and reeds with fenced-off cleanup sites, offers no visible clue to the invisible dangers that may still linger.

Frequently Asked Questions

• What is Hunters Point Naval Shipyard?
  It’s a former U.S. Navy base in San Francisco that operated as a nuclear research facility after WWII, studying the effects of atomic weapons. It’s now a federal Superfund site undergoing environmental cleanup.
• What is Plutonium-239 and why is it a concern?
  Plutonium-239 is a radioactive isotope created during nuclear explosions. While its alpha radiation is not harmful externally, if inhaled, it can severely damage lungs and increase cancer risk over time.
• How high were the radiation levels detected?
  A November 2024 air sample from Parcel C showed Plutonium-239 levels at twice the Navy’s established “action level.” However, the Navy maintains this level poses minimal immediate public health risk.
• Why were residents not informed sooner?
  The Navy took 11 months to notify San Francisco health officials and the public about the elevated reading. They attribute this delay to internal investigations, reanalysis of samples, and third-party reviews of laboratory procedures.
• What can residents do to stay informed?
  Attend upcoming community meetings, such as the Hunters Point Shipyard Citizens Advisory Committee Meeting on November 17. Stay engaged with local news and advocacy groups like the Hunters Point Biomonitoring Foundation.

Staying informed and advocating for accountability from federal agencies is crucial for the Bayview-Hunters Point community as this critical cleanup continues.

Hunters Point Radiation Levels Spark Doubts