LUCKEY, Ohio — A recent 105-page laboratory report analyzing groundwater samples from the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Luckey Formerly Utilized Sites Remedial Action Program (FUSRAP) site has confirmed what residents feared and regulators continue to downplay: uranium is still showing up in drinking water.

The Ohio Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) commissioned the report, prepared by GEL Laboratories, LLC, and dated May 30, 2025. It analyzed samples collected earlier that month, and while the results don’t violate federal maximum contaminant levels (MCLs), the presence of uranium, along with elevated levels of heavy metals, paints a deeply concerning picture of lingering contamination from the site’s Cold War-era legacy.

A Contaminated History

The Luckey site, located in Wood County, Ohio, was used by the federal government in the 1940s and 1950s for beryllium production and uranium processing under contract with the Atomic Energy Commission. Waste from these operations, including uranium, thorium, and beryllium, was disposed of on site, contaminating soil and groundwater. Cleanup efforts under FUSRAP began in the 1990s, but the presence of radioactive and chemical residues decades later raises serious questions about the adequacy and completeness of remediation.

Uranium Detected in Four Samples

Uranium was detected in four groundwater samples:

• Sample S02-PV2: 0.358 µg/L

• Sample S03-PL: 2.45 µg/L

• Sample S07-LL: 0.279 µg/L

• Sample S10-BP: 0.143 µg/L

These levels fall below the EPA’s MCL for uranium in drinking water (30 µg/L). However, the recurring presence across multiple locations reflects persistent subsurface mobility of radioactive materials. This is not consistent with the notion of a fully remediated site.

Regulatory Safety Limits: Scientifically Inadequate

EPA’s MCLs are not safety guarantees; they are policy compromises based on short-term exposure models. They do not account for the reality of lifelong, cumulative ingestion of radionuclides, especially in legacy-contaminated communities like Luckey. Chronic low-dose exposure, particularly in children and vulnerable populations, may contribute to kidney damage, cancer, developmental impairment, and neurotoxicity.

The 2025 report also documented elevated levels of several metals, including:

• Manganese: up to 6.16 µg/L

• Iron: up to 476 µg/L

• Nickel: up to 3.05 µg/L

• Zinc: up to 45.8 µg/L

• Sodium: up to 189,000 µg/L (189 mg/L)

These contaminants may not exceed individual federal limits, but their combined toxic burden and potential for bioaccumulation in humans are not factored into EPA risk models. No provision is made for the compounded effects of heavy metals interacting with radiological contaminants in real-world exposure scenarios.

Data Integrity Undermined by Lab Flags

The GEL report contains multiple quality control flags that weaken the reliability of the findings:

• Mercury was detected in field blanks, compromising those results.

• Several results were qualified with "J," "U," and "B" codes, indicating estimated or uncertain values.

• Numerous samples required dilution due to matrix interference or exceeded instrument limits.

Despite these limitations, the report was certified under the National Environmental Laboratory Accreditation Program (NELAP), which allows significant latitude in interpreting marginal or non-detect results as acceptable.

Government Accountability Missing

Although the DOE considers the site under long-term stewardship, the detection of uranium in groundwater decades after declared remediation should trigger immediate public concern. Yet the Ohio EPA has not issued public notices, advisories, or direct communication to residents living near the site.

The lack of public engagement, transparency, and updated toxicological modeling leaves affected communities unprotected. In the absence of clear federal or state action, Luckey residents remain exposed to the legacy of Cold War nuclear weapons production without adequate safeguards.

EPA STATEMENT:

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:              Luckey-Area Public Water Testing Results Show Water is Safe to Drink

LUCKEY, OH (June 18, 2025)— Independent analysis of water samples collected by Ohio EPA in Luckey and Pemberville confirmed that area public drinking water systems meet all Ohio and federal safe drinking water standards.

Ohio EPA conducted the sampling in response to recent reports from The Toledo Blade about potential radioactive contamination thought to be migrating from the former beryllium production facility in Luckey that is undergoing remediation by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE).

Ohio EPA collected nine public drinking water samples from locations in and around Luckey, including the public locations tested by the newspaper. The analysis of these samples, conducted by GEL Laboratories in Charleston, S.C., looked for 32 contaminants, finding no high levels of radioactive materials or other contamination. While some naturally occurring radioactive materials did appear at levels far less than what is considered unsafe, there were no detections of bismuth-214, cobalt-60, or beryllium in the water samples.

“We have full confidence that the water from public water systems in Luckey and Pemberville is safe to drink,” said Ohio EPA Director John Logue. “When The Toledo Blade questioned the safety of the drinking water, we wanted to make sure we were doing everything we could to determine if there was reason for concern. These testing results offer peace of mind for those who live in Luckey and surrounding areas.”

Ohio EPA’s water sampling results align with routine water testing by the USACE, which has shown no evidence that radioactive materials from the site have contaminated public or private drinking water. Based on the direction of groundwater flow, USACE’s monitoring includes a system of 18 monitoring wells used for routine sampling, including one private well that would be the first to be contaminated should hazardous materials get into the water.

While Ohio EPA regulates public drinking water systems, the Ohio Department of Health (ODH) regulates private drinking water systems. ODH will now proceed with sampling and testing a subset of private water systems in the area and will begin contacting a select number of private well owners to arrange sampling in the coming days.

“We are pleased to see that Ohio EPA’s sampling and analysis indicate that the drinking water in the Luckey area does not pose a public-health hazard,” said Ohio Department of Health (ODH) Director Bruce Vanderhoff, MD, MBA. “Because the area’s private water systems pull water from the same source as the public water systems, we can reasonably expect that the private well water is of the same quality. Nevertheless, we will proceed with targeted testing of private water systems out of an abundance of caution.”

Summary of Ohio EPA Testing Results # Sites w/detectionsRange of levels foundMaximum Contaminant Level (MCL)/Screening LevelGross Alpha (pCi/L)4/9ND-2.7815Radium-226 (pCi/L)4/9ND-0.4135.0Gross Beta (pCi/L)7/9ND-4.29050Bismuth-214 (pCi/L)0/9NDNACobalt-60 (pCi/L)0/9NDNARadon-222 (pCi/L)*0/8ND4,000Uranium (ug/L)7/9ND-4/6830Beryllium (ug/L)0/9ND4.0

pCi/L = picocuries per liter; ug/L = micrograms per liter; ND = non-detect

*Note:  Radon-222 testing was conducted at 9 locations; however, due to complications with the control sample at Eastwood Elementary School, that result was excluded from the final analysis.

The following substances were highlighted in The Toledo Blade’s report:

Cobalt-60

The Toledo Blade’s initial water testing found traces of cobalt-60, a manmade radioactive material. While the low levels detected would not pose a health risk, Ohio EPA agrees with the newspaper’s assertion that the presence of any cobalt-60 in local water would be highly abnormal. Because neither The Toledo Blade’s confirmatory testing nor the state’s independent testing detected cobalt-60, the state believes that the initial cobalt-60 findings were likely false positives.

Beryllium

Luckey and Pemberville are near the site of a former beryllium production facility undergoing long-term remediation by USACE. Testing results from both The Toledo Blade and Ohio EPA indicate no beryllium in drinking water.  

Radium-226

Radium-226 is a naturally occurring element in soil that releases radioactivity as it decays. Small amounts of this substance in water are normal in Ohio. Four of Ohio EPA’s nine water samples contained traces of radium-226 at a level no greater than .413 picocuries per liter (pCi/L), which is well below the 5.0 pCi/L considered dangerous to health. This is in line with The Toledo Blade’s testing results for radium-226.

Radon-222

Radon-222 is a naturally occurring radioactive gas that is a product of radium-226’s decay. Small amounts of radon-222 in water are normal in Ohio. Radon-222 was not detected in Ohio EPA’s water samples; however, radon-222 is challenging to measure in water because it quickly dissipates into the air. Several of Ohio EPA’s water samples were found to have low levels of Alpha and Beta radiation, indicating a presence of some low levels of radon in the water.

While radon-222 was also not detected in The Toledo Blade’s samples, the newspaper used a “back calculation” to estimate potential amounts of radon-222 in the water based on the total amount of bismuth-214 detected. The state does not recommend estimating contamination levels due to the many variables involved.

Radon in Air

Breathing radon in the air circulating in a home or other enclosed building is a much greater health risk than radon in water. Out of an abundance of caution, Ohio EPA provided funding to Eastwood Local Schools to test radon in the air at their buildings. The results found levels of radon no greater than 1.4 pCi/L, which is below the level of 4.0 pCi/L identified by U.S. EPA as the level at which radon reduction measures are recommended. This information was previously released by the school district and Ohio EPA on May 13, 2025. The school district will do an additional round of radon testing in the fall.

Ohio EPA also provided funding for Pemberville Public Library locations to test radon levels at the three library branches cited in The Toledo Blade’s report. The Luckey Branch and Stony Ridge Branch each had radon readings above the 4.0 pCi/L limit identified by U.S. EPA as the level at which radon reduction measures are recommended. Levels recorded at the Pemberville Branch came in just below the 4.0 pCi/L level. The state has offered to provide the library system with support for additional testing and the installation of radon mitigation systems at each branch.

Pemberville Public Library Radon Test ResultsBuilding# of Radon TestsHighest Radon Reading (pCi/L)Pemberville Branch Library93.9Luckey Branch Library95.7Stony Ridge Branch Library116.6

It is not uncommon for homes in Wood County to have radon in the indoor air. ODH reports the average results for the Luckey zip code are 5.8 pCi/L, and recent results range from 23.7 pCi/L to 0.4 pCi/L. If the results are 4.0 pCi/L or higher, in-home remediation systems are recommended.

Any radon level poses some health risk. While reducing radon to zero is impossible, the best approach is to lower the radon level as much as possible. It is highly recommended that a radon mitigation system be installed to reduce the radon level to 4.0 pCi/L or lower. Free radon test kits are available at ohio.radon.com.

Bismuth-214

Bismuth-214 is a naturally occurring radioactive substance. In Ohio, it is normal to find small amounts of bismuth-214 in water, however Ohio EPA’s water samples did not find any presence of bismuth-214.   

Bismuth-214 is formed as part of the “uranium decay chain.” Uranium is naturally occurring; its natural decay process creates radium, radium decays to radon, and radon decays to bismuth-214.

While The Toledo Blade did report some of their water samples had high levels of bismuth-214, the state would also expect to see high levels of radon and/or radium accompanying any high levels of bismuth due to the process by which uranium decays. Neither Ohio EPA’s water samples nor the newspaper’s water samples showed high levels of radon or radium.

Due to the variables involved, including collection procedure and quality control, it is impossible for Ohio EPA to know why The Toledo Blade’s bismuth-214 water analysis differed significantly from Ohio EPA’s results. However, Ohio EPA has confidence in its own collection methods and quality standards necessary to receive accurate test results and finds no reason to believe that high levels of bismuth-214 exist in the area’s public drinking water systems.

Uranium

Given the concerns raised by The Toledo Bladeabout radium and radon exposure, Ohio EPA’s samples were also analyzed for the presence of uranium. Uranium is naturally occurring and is the starting point of a natural decay process that eventually leads to radium and radon. Because uranium breaks down very slowly—over hundreds of thousands of years—it is not unusual to find it where radium and radon are present. The U.S. EPA has limited the amount of uranium permissible in drinking water to 30 micrograms per liter (ug/L). Seven of nine Ohio EPA’s samples detected low levels of uranium at levels of up to 4.68 ug/L, which is well below the federal limit and not considered a health concern.