New Delhi: carcinogens have been found at Montana nuclear missile sites. In August 2023, the Air Force announced that it had found unsafe levels of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) at two launch facilities at Malmstrom Air Force Base in Montana. PCBs are oily or waxy substances that have been identified as likely carcinogens by the EPA. The Air Force is now conducting a cleanup of the two launch facilities.
The discovery of PCBs at Malmstrom Air Force Base comes after years of concerns about cancer rates among missileers. In January 2023, the Associated Press reported that at least nine current or former missileers at Malmstrom had been diagnosed with non-Hodgkin lymphoma, a rare blood cancer. The Air Force School of Aerospace Medicine is now studying cancer rates among the entire missile community to see if there is a link to PCB exposure.
The discovery of carcinogens at Montana nuclear missile sites is a reminder of the potential health risks associated with these facilities. It is important to continue to monitor cancer rates among missileers and to take steps to protect their health.
The Air Force has ordered a new cleanup effort and an investigation into the possible causes and effects of the contamination. This is a serious and concerning issue that affects the health and safety of the missile community and the environment.
