Missile control center nicknamed "Capsule". *Air force.
Compiled by Zhang Haotian.
Toxic liquids emit a pungent odor on the floor; Faulty ventilation devices have led to a serious decline in indoor air quality; a malfunctioning computer monitor oozing dizzy and nauseous gel; The concentration of asbestos particulates far exceeds the ...... of safety standardsSince the 60s of the 20 th century, similar situations have been common in hundreds of underground missile command centers across the United States. Officially, the metal and concrete bunkers are "the safest place in the world," but hundreds of pages of material recently obtained by the Associated Press through the Freedom of Information Act tell a very different story. Against the backdrop of an increasing number of active and retired military personnel being exposed to cancer, a health crisis hidden in the US Strategic Missile Forces has surfaced.
In January 2023, the Associated Press disclosed that multiple current or retired missile operators had developed cancer. Since then, hundreds of servicemen and their families have broken their silence, claiming that the experience of serving in the underground control center is linked to the disease. One of them is Jackie Pu Peide, who served as commander of a missile unit at the Malmström base from 1999 to 2006. Diagnosed with lymphoma, he said, "I think there is a violation of safety standards and the Ministry of Defense should investigate." ”
The capsule is full of safety hazards.
The United States currently has three land-based nuclear missile bases: Minot in North Dakota, Warren in Wyoming, and Malmström in Montana. Each base has 15 underground control centers, which serve as the nerve center of the Minuteman-3 ICBM. These capsule-like facilities are manned every day, and soldiers on duty often work 24 hours or more straight, monitoring the condition of each missile in real time and being ready to press the launch button.
The US Air Force, which is responsible for managing nuclear missiles, emphasizes that the construction and maintenance of underground control centers follows the strictest standards and ensures personal safety. However, in the documents obtained by the Associated Press, a large number of anomalies involving "health risks" are mentioned.
A memorandum, dated 9 November 1992, states: "The type and content of asbestos ......Please report it as soon as possible. The names of the people on the document were redacted, but the urgency was clear - the attached handwritten note read "Priority".
Subsequently, the environmental investigation team measured "worrying asbestos readings" in the equipment room under the control room. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has set the risk threshold for asbestos exposure to no more than 1 percent over an eight-hour workday, but missile controllers are often on standby 24 hours a day in confined underground spaces. If you don't get on time due to bad weather**, the cycle will be even longer.
It is worth noting that according to the official caliber, the risk of asbestos contamination is downplayed. "Asbestos is a health hazard only when crushed. After investigation, all suspected asbestos was intact. The official report reads.
PCB leaks have been documented in some documents. A 1987 report mentions that an operator called the commander and said he was experiencing severe headaches and dizziness, and immediately noticed a clear, viscous substance running from under the power panel. A record left by an environmental engineer reads: "It is recommended to open the blast door and enhance ventilation. Be sure not to come into contact with this substance. ”
Another survey reported that the air quality in the underground control room was "poor, but it did not cause serious health problems". In March 1996, medical personnel measured carbon dioxide levels in the air at 1,700 parts per million. In such an environment, "most duty officers will complain of headaches, sleepiness, fatigue and difficulty concentrating. Consideration should be given to moving people out. ”
Several military personnel have developed cancer.
In the mid-90s of the 20th century, all the "capsules" buried deep in the ground were renovated with a console the size of a wall. It's an integrated fire control system, codenamed React, that allows the U.S. military to reprogram nuclear missiles more quickly in war. The arrival of such equipment also exposes missile operators to new health threats.
A document dated May 1995 states that "control team members reported that the monitor was malfunctioning, and after a click, the monitor malfunctioned, and only a white line could be seen......At the same time, a colorless liquid splattered out, ...... with an ammonia-like odorThe operator began to complain of headaches and nausea. Two hours later, the 'capsule' was emptied. ”
This liquid is dimethylformamide, an electrolyte used in the react** display unit. During the same period, a similar leak occurred at the Warren base in Wyoming. A 1996 memo mentions that "to date, we do not know how much of this substance is in the control compartment, nor what happens to the operators and maintenance personnel who have been exposed to it." ”
Regarding the harm of dimethylformamide, some studies believe that there is a clear link between it and liver cancer.
The military was questioned about "turning big things into small ones".
With the new generation of land-based ballistic missiles, codenamed "Sentinels," about to enter service, the existing underground missile control centers of the US military will be shut down in the next few years and replaced by a new batch of command and control facilities. Major General John Newberry, commander of the U.S. Air Force Nuclear Center, said the design team was aware of reports of health issues and would apply environmental health standards in line with the times in the new control center; When the first "capsules" were built in the 60s of the last century, these standards did not exist.
Some active-duty military personnel said they were concerned about the disclosures in the report. On Dec. 29, 2023, the Associated Press said that Lt. Samantha McGrinhey, 28, said, "For those of us who are early in our careers, the sooner the problem is raised, the better." ”
Some suspect that the military is trying to downplay the risks. Doreen Jennis's husband, Jason, worked at the Malmström base in the 90s. Jason began feeling unwell in the fall of 2000. In February of the following year, Jason was hospitalized with severe pain in his buttocks and was immediately diagnosed with lymphoma, which he died five months later.
Archives show that during Jason's service, there were several health risks at the missile base. In 1996, a ventilation fan was out of service for half a year due to a malfunction, and the operator had to leave the protective door at the top of the "capsule" open in order to get fresh air.
To my frustration and anger, they (the military) kept saying that nothing unusual had been found. Doreen Janis said, "...It's even harder to take action. Now, 23 years after Jason left, a large group of young people may have to go through what we've been through. It's very sad to think that they might face the same future as I do. ”
*: China Youth Daily client.