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San Francisco health authorities have assured the public that there is no immediate risk to safety after plutonium was found in the city, according to a report by SFGate.
The revelation came to light last week, sparking anger among local health officials. High levels of plutonium were detected nearly a year ago in an air filter at the former Hunters Point Naval Shipyard, but officials only became aware of this in late October.
San Francisco Health Officer Dr. Susan Philip conveyed her frustration in a letter to the Navy. She highlighted that the detection of plutonium-239 at the shipyard—an area that functioned as a Navy repair facility and housed a radiological lab from 1945 to 1974—was only communicated to city health officials recently.
According to reports, the Navy identified the presence of plutonium in November 2024. Concerns over potential contamination have been ongoing at the shipyard, especially since parts of the area have been redeveloped for residential use.