The Native-led nonprofit organization Tewa Women United (TWU), based in Española, New Mexico, has released two independent scientific reports. These reports evaluate the implications and regulatory compliance of Los Alamos National Laboratory’s (LANL) proposal to release tritium into the atmosphere from four Flanged Tritium Waste Containers located in Area G, near White Rock, New Mexico.

The findings indicate that if vented during unfavorable weather conditions, the concentration of tritium in the most radioactive container could lead to radiation doses exceeding the annual regulatory limit of 10 millirem set by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

Bernd Franke, one of the report's authors, noted: “In the case of tritium, infants and small children get a radiation dose about three times greater than adults, with the same concentrations of tritium in air, water, and food.”

The reports highlight that LANL's application for venting did not account for potential impacts on infants or children. This omission means LANL did not consider these groups as "members of the public" during their compliance application process. The EPA has allowed LANL to proceed without addressing these vulnerable populations so far.