Because the Hanford Site sits along the Columbia River just 35 miles from Oregon's border, our priority is to ensure cleanup actions are protective of the river.
There are chemical contaminants in the river from Hanford and from many other sources, such as farmers’ fields, paper mills, and other industries, as well as radioactive materials from natural sources and from past nuclear weapons tests. Small amounts of chemical and radioactive materials from Hanford do enter the river, but are quickly diluted and generally not detectable beyond the immediate area where they enter the river. Measured concentrations consistently have been low, and no restrictions are in place for use or recreation in the river as a result of Hanford.
A number of health and environmental organizations regularly sample and test the Columbia River water and issue health advisories if there are concerns. For example, in September 2013, the Oregon Public Health Authority advised people to limit the amount of resident fish consumed that are taken between Bonneville Dam and McNary Dam due to moderate levels of mercury and PCBs (from sources other than Hanford). In August 2017, the Washington State Department of Health issued a similar advisory from McNary Dam upstream to the Interstate 90 bridge near Vantage, Washington. This area includes the entire portion of the river that runs through the Hanford Site. However, this advisory was also due to PCBs and mercury from sources other than Hanford.
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