Unveiling the Dark Secrets of Government Testing on Innocent Communities

In the 1950s and 1960s, residents of St. Louis were unknowingly part of a secret military experiment. This revelation raises unsettling questions about the government’s role in potentially jeopardizing the health of its citizens.

A Community in the Dark

During the Cold War, the Army conducted secret chemical testing in impoverished neighborhoods in St. Louis. Motorized blowers on high-rise buildings, schools, and station wagons spread a potentially hazardous compound into the air of predominantly black communities. At the time, local officials were told that the tests were meant to create a smoke screen to protect St. Louis from a possible Russian attack.

However, in 1994, it was revealed that these tests were part of a biological weapons program. The city was chosen for its similarity to Russian cities that the U.S. might target. The substance sprayed was zinc cadmium sulfide, a fluorescent powder.

New Research Sparks Concern

Recent research has raised further alarm. A sociology professor at a local college suggested the possibility that the Army may have mixed radioactive particles with the zinc cadmium sulfide. Although there is no direct evidence of radiation testing, the findings were troubling enough to prompt both U.S. senators from Missouri to demand answers from the Army.

Documents obtained through a Freedom of Information Act request described the test area as a "densely populated slum district," with three-quarters of its residents being black. The implications of this testing have led many to wonder about the long-term health effects on the community.

Personal Stories of Suffering

One woman, born in 1955 in a St. Louis housing development where the testing occurred, lost her father just three months after her birth. Over the years, she has seen four siblings die of cancer and has survived cervical cancer herself. She now questions if these tragedies are connected to the Army’s secret experiments.

Another resident recalled a day when Army planes flew low over her neighborhood, dropping a powdery substance. Over the years, she has battled four different types of cancer. Her feelings of betrayal resonate deeply, comparing the actions of her government to the horrors of the Holocaust.

Calls for Accountability

Despite the alarming findings, there have been no lawsuits, payouts, or even apologies from the government to those affected by the tests. In 1994, Congress exposed the secret testing, leading to a demand for a health study. A committee of the National Research Council concluded in 1997 that the testing did not expose residents to harmful levels of the chemical. However, they noted that research was limited and based on animal testing.

The committee recommended follow-up studies to determine whether the inhaled zinc cadmium sulfide broke down into toxic compounds. To date, it is unclear if such studies were ever conducted.

The Need for Answers

The professor who conducted the recent research was inspired by colleagues who grew up in the targeted area and developed cancer. Her doctoral thesis at the University of Missouri focused on the St. Louis testing, linking it to the Manhattan Project and radiological weapons development.

Both Missouri senators have expressed shock and concern over the possibility that thousands of residents were exposed to harmful materials without their knowledge. They have called for a follow-up health study that includes direct input from those who lived in the affected areas.

Conclusion

The secret chemical testing in St. Louis during the Cold War remains a dark chapter in American history. The lack of transparency and accountability has left many residents questioning the long-term impact on their health. As new research emerges, the call for justice and answers grows louder. The community deserves to know the truth about what happened and how it may have affected their lives.

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