ALBANY According to an environmental analysis, Albany Bulb, an East Bay park built on a former landfill, has high radiation levels.
GiGi Valdes and other park visitors are now worried.
Valdes has spent years in Albany Bulb. She enjoys opportunities to let her dogs run off steam, exercise, and fresh air. Until she learned there were high radiation levels, it was one of her favorite ways to leave the house.
Valdes remarked, “It’s always in the back of my mind,” “I didn’t come for a while, but staying inside is hard. You’d like to spend some time in nature.
In the 1960s, parts of the bay were filled in with garbage to form Albany Bulb, which remained a landfill until the 1980s.
Documents revealed that a defunct Richmond chemical plant deposited tons of garbage around the site between 1960 and 1971, prompting the state to conduct testing.
Ten locations in the park had excessive radiation levels, according to testing. After hearing the news, Valdes admitted that she wasn’t sure how to respond, but she did briefly alter her behavior.
“I think that there’s a lot of lack of information and not enough information is being put out to inform the public about safety,” Valdes added.
Kai Vetter, a nuclear engineer and professor at UC Berkeley, was not shocked to learn about the radioactivity. “Radioactivity is common,” he stated.
“Wherever we go in our world you’ll find radioactivity,” Vetter stated. “All objects in our world are to some degree radioactive, that’s just the nature of the world we live in.”
Vetter thinks that since its creation, Albany Bulb has had comparable radiation levels, but even in the regions with the greatest levels, the radiation isn’t very high.
Vetter added that radiation is a natural occurrence due to the surrounding mountains. “For instance, if you go to Denver, Denver in Colorado, you find about the same level of radioactivity as you find at the highest point at Albany Bulb,” he stated.
According to Vetter, there are no harmful health impacts based on the radiation levels recorded at the park.
“So, therefore, people should continue to enjoy Albany Bulb,” Vetter said in the end.
“The City does not have enough information from the survey report to reach specific conclusions on public health risk,” the city of Albany stated. In order to further inform public risk levels, the next phase of the inquiry will involve shallow subsurface measurements and soil sampling. According to the findings of the gamma walkover study, the City does not currently believe that any more steps are necessary to ensure public health and safety.
Still wary, Valdes would like to know more about the findings and whether they intend to attempt radiation reduction.
“It would be nice if they could tell people what they are doing you know to really re-establish the balance in nature and for the health of the people,” she continued.
Under the direction of the San Francisco Bay Regional Water Quality Control Board, the city of Albany stated that they are now working on the next measures.
Eliot Pierce is a dedicated writer for ChiefsFocus.com, covering local crime and finance news. With a keen eye for detail and a passion for storytelling, Eliot aims to provide his readers with clear and insightful analysis, helping them navigate the complexities of their financial lives while staying informed about important local events. His commitment to delivering accurate and engaging content makes him a valuable resource for the community.