Summary of Findings

Rocky Flats Public Exposure Studies

Key Findings related to health risks

People who lived near Rocky Flats between 1952 and 1970 were exposed to higher concentrations of plutonium than those people who moved to the area later.

People who were in the path of the airborne releases from the fire on September 11 and 12, 1957 were subject to the highest risks from plutonium associated with all Rocky Flats Plant operations. The following graphic shows the risks estimated to be associated with that single event.

Chart depicting Lifetime Cancer Risk for the Laborer from the 1957 Fire

Other than those individuals exposed the night of the 1957 fire, the highest plutonium exposure and resulting cancer risk were to the east and southeast of the plant. The following graphic shows the risks estimated to be associated with the 903 Area, the 1969 fire and routine releases of plutonium.

Chart depicting Lifetime Cancer Risk for the Laborer, All Events Except 1957 Fire

The following graphic shows the risk of all of the previous releases, assuming laborers were present in the area surrounding Rocky Flats during the entire 1953-1989 operational period of the plant.
Chart depicting Lifetime Cancer Risk for the Laborer, All Events

Large amounts of carbon tetrachloride were released from the plant, and the estimated cancer risk was comparable to that of plutonium. The following graphic shows the effect of carbon tetrachloride releases from 1953 to 1989.
Chart depicting Lifetime Cancer Risk for the Laborer, Carbon Tetrachloride Releases

 

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