By: Stephenie M.
Did you know the Marshall Islands hold more than 3.1 million cubic feet of radioactive waste? The Marshall Islands are located 5,000 miles north of the equator in the Pacific Ocean and consist of 29 low-lying coral atolls and volcanic islands scattered in the Central Pacific. Located in the northwest corner of the Marshall Islands is Enewetak atoll, which is the second-largest atoll. Enewetak atoll holds an artificial dome in the center of the island that contains radioactive debris. The lethal waste is a product of nuclear testing that occurred between 1946 and 1958 in the Marshall Islands, where the United States forcefully removed hundreds of people from Enewetak atoll, their ancestral lands, and directed 67 nuclear weapons tests. The construction represents the United States' nuclear legacy and broken promises the Marshall government received.
Enewetak atoll holds nuclear debris from 1946 and 1958 that can negatively impact the inhabitants of the Marshall Islands and the surrounding environment. Contaminated soil produced by the detonated bombs was cleaned up and stored in the dome, along with irradiated soil from a Nevada testing site. According to a study at Columbia University, “[the] soil on four isles of the Marshall Islands contains concentrations of nuclear isotopes that greatly exceed those found near the Chernobyl and Fukushima nuclear power plants” (LA Times). Today 500 people live in Chernobyl, a city in Ukraine, where a reactor exploded at a power plant and released a massive amount of radioactive material, which covered most of Europe. The population in Enewetak Atoll is twice as high, in contrast to Chernobyl, while radiation levels are 1000 times higher on the island.
The image above depicts people at Enewetak Atoll attending Sunday Church. Image from Brooke Takala Abraham.
The Dome in Enewetak atoll could potentially collapse amid climate change as sea levels are increasing annually. Sea levels are rising, leading tides to hit the sides of the dome, which could deconstruct the structure and leak its contents. There is a high risk the dome may collapse as it was built in the 1970s, which has led the concrete to weaken and develop cracks. According to the USGS, “sea level[s] in the western Pacific Ocean has been increasing at a rate 2–3 times the global average.” With sea levels rising each year, it is only a matter of time before the tides unconceal the dome, and that could have devastating consequences to the environment and 58,000 people who live on the surrounding atolls. Waves are creeping on the dome sides as sea levels rise, and it threatens its integrity. The dome has many radioactive contaminants, one of which is plutonium-239, and it is one of the most toxic substances in the world. Plutonium-239 can be detrimental to people's health as plutonium alpha particles can kill lung cells, which scarring lungs and eventually leads to lung disease and cancer. Many people fear the substance is leaking into the surrounding environment as the structure is not lined. Concerns have increased amid climate change as sea levels rise and threaten the structural integrity of the dome.
The image above depicts the dome in Enewetak Atoll and its layers. Image from phys.org.
The Dome could open and leak radioactive material into oceans. Nuclear weapons and climate change can potentially merge to cause a disaster in the Marshall Islands, so the United States must take accountability and help the Marshall Government prevent a catastrophe that could negatively impact the environment and the 58,000 people who live in the Marshall Islands.
History allows people and countries to learn from past mistakes. Nations have to learn from mistakes the United States has made as containing nuclear waste is not sustainable. When atomic bombs detonate, atoms split and produce large quantities of energy. The trinitrotoluene (TNT) released by nuclear energy yields in the millions, then the poisonous compound degrades in surface soil at impact areas and must be stored away for human safety. The produced waste remains radioactive for tens and thousands of years, and there is no long-term solution to store the radioactive waste. The structure in Enewetak represents the nuclear waste crisis as storage space is limited to the massive amount of waste produced and the potential danger it poses to humanity.
The image above depicts nuclear waste stored in a pool. It’s hard to decide where toxic nuclear waste will be stored as the amount increases. There is no long-term solution to the ongoing crisis.
Image from Jonathon Player/Shutterstock
Enewetak atoll has a tomb containing radioactive soil and debris that threaten the inhabitants of the island. Nuclear testing occurred between 1946 and 1958 in the Marshall Islands, and consequences of testing are present today as radiation levels are high in the islands. The poisonous substance plutonium-239 is leaching into the sea, killing organisms and bleaching coral reefs. The United States lacked communication with the Marshall government, as they did not provide information on testing locations. Exposure to radioactive debris endangered people's health as they experienced symptoms of radiation sickness, and it was for research purposes. The nuclear testing that occurred in the Marshall Islands should serve as a lesson to other countries that use nuclear testing or plan to do, in the future.
Discussion Questions:
Is there a long-term solution to nuclear storage? Do you think a safe way exists?
The Marshall Islands have high levels of radiation, so is it inhabitable?
Works Cited
“Enewetak Atoll • Marshall Islands Guide.” Marshall Islands Guide, 15 Apr. 2020, www.infomarshallislands.com/atolls-a-l/enewetak-atoll/.
“How the U.S. Betrayed the Marshall Islands, Kindling the Next Nuclear Disaster.” Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 10 Nov. 2019, www.latimes.com/projects/marshall-islands-nuclear-testing-sea-level-rise/.
Johnson, Giff. “Under the Dome: Fears Pacific Nuclear 'Coffin' Is Leaking.” Phys.org, Phys.org, 26 May 2019, phys.org/news/2019-05-dome-pacific-nuclear-coffin-leaking.html.
“Runit Island.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 3 Apr. 2021, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Runit_Island.
Thomas, Nathalie. “UK Returns to Grappling with Toxic Nuclear Waste Dilemma.” Subscribe to Read | Financial Times, Financial Times, 9 Feb. 2021, www.ft.com/content/2321bfae-839a-468f-b933-d699b6ff6864.