(NewsNation) — Public health officials in San Francisco say that immediate action isn’t necessary to protect public safety following the detection of plutonium in the city, as reported by local outlet SFGate.
Last week, health officials in San Francisco were furious over the revelation that high levels of plutonium were detected 11 months ago in an air filter at the former Hunters Point Naval Shipyard, only to be brought to health officials’ attention in late October.
In a letter to the Navy, San Francisco Health Officer Dr. Susan Philip expressed outrage that city health officials discovered this October that plutonium-239 had been detected at the former Hunters Point Naval Shipyard, which served as a repair shipyard for the Navy from 1945 to 1974 and housed a radiological lab when it was in use.
The Navy reportedly discovered the Pu-239 in November 2024; however, concerns about potential contamination at the shipyard have persisted for several years. These concerns are worsened by the fact that parts of the shipyard have been converted into housing.
U.S. Navy responds
After sending the letter, Philip told SFGate that she met with Navy officials to discuss the public health concerns surrounding the plutonium.
“During this meeting, Navy officials confirmed that dust-control measures, and air and dust monitoring are ongoing,” Philip told SFGATE. “The Navy has also stated that they are reviewing their dust control methods to ensure they are fully protective of public health. Based on the information currently provided by the Navy, no immediate action is required from a public health safety standpoint.”
Phillip said the San Francisco Department of Public Health will monitor the situation and has requested that the Navy send all data to the department.
“The Navy has assured us that they will provide additional data for independent verification in the coming days, and I have asked regulatory agencies and environmental health experts to review the data,” Philip said.
What is Plutonium-239
Pu-239 is a radioactive material used to create nuclear weapons and reactors. According to the CDC, it has a half-life of 24,000 years and can stay in the body for decades if ingested or inhaled.
According to the National Institute of Health’s public chemical database, “plutonium’s radioactivity can cause cancers of the bone, liver, and lungs if ingested or inhaled. Large amounts may also cause acute radiation poisoning.”