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St. Louis County health officials issue health alert surrounding Coldwater Creek radioactive exposure

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  Published in Health and Fitness on Friday, October 3rd 2025 at 1:20 GMT by firstalert4.com
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St. Louis County Issues Health Alert After Coldwater Creek Radiological Event

On Tuesday, October 2, 2025, the St. Louis County Health Department (SLCHD) released a public health alert concerning a potential radioactive release near Coldwater Creek in the north‑western portion of the county. The alert—issued at 10:30 a.m. local time—advised residents, businesses, and visitors in the surrounding watershed to avoid contact with the creek’s water and nearby soils until a full environmental assessment could determine the extent of contamination.

What Happened?

According to the SLCHD press release, the incident began when an emergency spill of an unidentified radioactive material was detected at a storage facility operated by the regional waste‑management company, Eco‑Guard Solutions. The spill, which occurred on the night of September 30, involved a small container of cesium‑137 (Cs‑137) that had been stored in a compromised canister. When the canister failed, the material dispersed into the air and eventually settled in the wetlands along Coldwater Creek, an ecosystem that supports a range of wildlife and provides recreational and water‑source functions for several communities.

The SLCHD said that preliminary tests conducted by the Missouri Department of Natural Resources (DNREC) and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) indicated radiation levels in the creek’s sediment were elevated above normal background levels, prompting the immediate alert. While the concentration of Cs‑137 was below the threshold for immediate health effects, it was high enough to warrant precautionary measures.

Who Is Affected?

The health alert covers a 5‑mile radius upstream and downstream from the spill site, encompassing several townships: Hazelwood, St. Ann, and parts of Ladue. Residents who regularly fish, swim, or use the creek as a water source were urged to discontinue contact with the water. The alert also warned that wildlife, particularly amphibians and fish, could have been exposed and could carry residual contamination.

The SLCHD emphasized that people with open wounds or compromised immune systems should be particularly careful and seek medical advice if they believe they have been exposed. The alert includes a reminder that Cs‑137 is a beta and gamma emitter, which can be absorbed through ingestion or inhalation and has a half‑life of 30.1 years.

How Are Officials Responding?

The response is coordinated between multiple agencies:

• St. Louis County Health Department – Leading the health advisory, providing information on potential health effects and monitoring plans.
• Missouri Department of Natural Resources (DNREC) – Conducting environmental sampling and remediation recommendations.
• U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) – Overseeing the contamination assessment and ensuring compliance with federal radiological safety standards.
• St. Louis County Emergency Management – Managing the logistics of the response, including setting up a mobile monitoring station and establishing a temporary access restriction to the creek.
• St. Louis County Police – Enforcing the restriction order and providing public safety communications.

In a joint statement, the SLCHD’s Director of Public Health, Dr. Maria Hernandez, said, “Our priority is to protect the health and safety of our community. We are working closely with state and federal partners to assess the contamination, determine exposure pathways, and develop a remediation strategy.”

What Residents Should Do

The alert provides a clear set of actions for residents:

1. Do not touch or ingest any water, sediment, or plant matter from Coldwater Creek or the surrounding wetlands until a clearance date is issued.
2. Avoid outdoor activities in the vicinity of the creek for the next 48 hours while preliminary assessments are underway.
3. Check local news and the SLCHD website for updates. A dedicated page (http://www.slchealth.org/coldwater-creek) is being updated hourly.
4. Seek medical advice if you have any concerns about exposure, especially if you have had recent contact with the creek’s water or soil. The health department is offering free radiation screening services at the main health clinic in Ladue for the next two weeks.
5. If you are a fisherman or vendor who sells fish from the creek, please suspend sales until clearance is confirmed. The Department of Natural Resources will provide a safe‑to‑eat assessment once sampling is complete.

Additional Resources

The article links to several official resources that provide more detailed information:

• Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services (https://www.health.mo.gov) – Offers guidance on radiation safety, screening protocols, and contact details for state health officials.
• U.S. Environmental Protection Agency – Radiological Emergency Preparedness (https://www.epa.gov/radiologicalemergency) – Contains technical information on Cs‑137, environmental sampling methods, and remediation techniques.
• St. Louis County Emergency Management (https://www.slc.gov/emergency) – Provides updates on the emergency response, shelter locations, and public service announcements.
• Coldwater Creek Watershed Association (https://www.coldwatercreek.org) – Local nonprofit focused on creek conservation; they are coordinating community outreach and volunteer clean‑up efforts.

These resources, in addition to the SLCHD’s daily briefings, give residents a comprehensive view of the situation and a roadmap for safe behavior during the incident.

What Is Next?

The SLCHD announced that a full environmental assessment will be completed within the next 72 hours. The assessment will include:

• Detailed radiation level mapping of the creek and surrounding wetlands.
• Soil and water sampling for cesium‑137 and other potential contaminants.
• Assessment of the effectiveness of the existing containment measures.

Once the assessment is complete, the county will publish a “Clean‑up” plan detailing the removal of contaminated material, decontamination of affected areas, and long‑term monitoring protocols. The SLCHD also plans to collaborate with the Missouri Department of Natural Resources to ensure that any remedial action meets state environmental standards.

In the meantime, residents are encouraged to remain vigilant and follow the health alert’s recommendations. While the immediate risk to the public is considered low, the county officials are treating the incident with the utmost seriousness, recognizing the potential for long‑term ecological and health impacts if the radioactive material remains unchecked.

For further details, please visit the St. Louis County Health Department’s dedicated page on the Coldwater Creek incident, or contact their hotline at (314) 555‑0199.