PIKETON, Ohio (AP) — A recent Reuters investigation into the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) has sparked local outcry, particularly concerning the former Portsmouth Gaseous Diffusion Plant in Piketon. The ATSDR, established more than four decades ago to assess health risks from some of the nation’s most toxic sites, is now under scrutiny for allegedly protecting polluters and providing misleading reports.
Reuters’ investigation analyzed 428 reports issued by the ATSDR between 2012 and 2023, revealing that the agency declared communities safe or failed to make a determination in 68% of its findings. Critics argue that this pattern of declaring minimal harm is difficult to believe, particularly given that 38% of the reports relied on outdated or flawed data. In several instances, other government agencies or the ATSDR itself later refuted the agency’s findings, exposing errors that have impacted communities in states including Alabama, California, Missouri, New York, and North Carolina.
One of the most troubling aspects of the investigation is the ATSDR’s history of publishing inconclusive reports, which some experts say aligns with corporate strategies to avoid regulation and liability for polluted sites. Despite ongoing criticism, the agency continues to rely on questionable practices, as noted in a 2010 evaluation by its own review board.
Locally, the ATSDR has published multiple reports on the former Portsmouth Gaseous Diffusion Plant, consistently downplaying the risks of radiation exposure. Activists and residents in Pike County have long called for a thorough investigation into these reports, citing independent studies that contradict the agency’s claims. Critics also accuse the ATSDR of shielding polluters and the U.S. Department of Energy by understating the contamination’s true extent.
In July, Dr. Michael Ketterer, Professor Emeritus, Chemistry and Biochemistry, Northern Arizona University, released a study showing an increase in Neptunium levels in plant life up to 15 miles from the former uranium enrichment facility, raising further concerns about the environmental and health impacts in the area. The Pike County Health District has also launched its own independent investigation into the radioactive footprint from the former Atomic Plant. Residents have been advised not to consume local produce, fish, or livestock near the facility and Piketon area.
These revelations come as Zahns Corner Middle School, which was closed in 2019 after radioactive isotopes were detected nearby, is set to be auctioned. An independent investigation found dangerous contaminants inside the school, further fueling demands for accountability and transparency from the ATSDR.