Thousands more people than expected face health threats from plutonium and other highly radioactive isotopes that contaminated huge amounts of uranium recycled by the U.S. nuclear weapons program over the last 50 years. USA Today reports that federal data show that the recycling program yielded 250,000 tons of tainted uranium, about double the estimate of two years ago. The material was handled at 100 federal plants, private manufacturers, and universities — about 10 times the number of sites previously revealed. The possibility that workers at those sites may face higher odds of cancer and other health problems could have significant implications for a soon-to-begin federal program to compensate sick nuclear weapons workers.
