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SAN FRANCISCO (KRON) — The U.S. Navy recently issued an apology to members of San Francisco’s Bayview neighborhood for its delayed disclosure of airborne radioactive material in the air.
KRON4 spoke with a nuclear science professor about people’s health concerns. Watch the full report in the video player above.
During a meeting Monday held by the Hunters Point Shipyard Citizen Advisory Committee, the U.S. Navy apologized for radioactive plutonium found in the air above the Bayview–Hunters Point neighborhood.
According to San Francisco health officials, it’s at twice the federal government’s recommended levels. Some people living there say it’s making them sick.
The Navy said it found plutonium-239 in the Hunters Point Shipyard back in November of 2024. But officials did not report that discovery to the city until last month — nearly a year later.
Photo: KRON4 News.
Plutonium-239 is a key component in nuclear reactors and weapons. Exposure to it — particularly if inhaled — has been linked to cell damage, increasing a person’s risk of developing multiple types of cancer.
Doctor Kathryn Higley is a professor in the School of Nuclear Science and Engineering at Oregon State University. Dr. Higley is also a physicist and radioecologist who works with the Navy.
She said, despite the delay in the Navy’s report, people shouldn’t be worried about getting sick.
Just earlier this month, Mayor Daniel Lurie held a ribbon cutting for new affordable housing in the Bayview. It’s part of his ongoing efforts to revitalize the Hunters Point Shipyard.
However, community members in the Bayview are still demanding transparency. City leaders are calling for a full independent review by state and federal regulators.
During Monday’s meeting, Supervisor Shamann Walton said the board will be holding a hearing in December about why it took 11 months for the Navy to inform the city about the situation.
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Catherine Heenan
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