HANFORD – Demolition and cleanup of the former Plutonium Finishing Plant (PFP), one of the most contaminated areas on the Hanford Site, began in November 2016. Since then, the Office of Radiation Protection has found americium and plutonium – which were products from the PFP – at very low levels, some 2-3 miles from PFP. In mid-December 2017, a stop-work was called because contamination was found outside a controlled area. For more information about the verification work we're doing, visit our Hanford and Public Health webpage. On Jan. 30, 2018, the Department of Health sent a letter of concern to U.S. Department of Energy (PDF) about unexpected radiation releases.
Radiation exposure can come from many sources including X-rays, radioactive materials, nuclear power plants, and radioactive waste sites like Hanford in eastern Washington. Learn more about the topics below.
- Dawn Mining Company, Ford, Washington
- Fukushima and Radioactivity in Washington
- Hanford and Public Health
- Magnuson Park, Seattle, Cleanup
- Midnite Mine - former uranium mine - U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
- Myths and Facts About Radiation
- Nuclear Energy - U.S. Department of Energy
- Radiation All Around Us - U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission
- Radiation Emergencies - Washington State (PDF)
- Radiation Emergencies - Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
- Radiation Protection - U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
- Radioactive Consumer Products - pendants and cards
- Radon
- X-Ray