Far too often Facebook is more like listening to Coast to Coast AM, Alex Jones, or the forum at a Flat Earth site. People are quick with the conspiracy theories and short on facts. And God help anyone asking for specifics.
In 1959 in the hills above Simi Valley, CA, the Santa Susana Nuclear Test Facility suffered a partial meltdown of fuel rods. Some 13 fuel rods partially melted, however, the fuel remained within the reactor core. An important note, as this reactor was experimental, there was no containment vessel as we have today.
Coolant leaked into the building. Coolant and radioactive gas were vented to the environment.
The government and the company that ran the reactor covered up the accident.
Those are the known facts. No one disputes them.
Here is where things get, well, odd.
Claims that this has caused a cancer cluster abound. However, when one researches online, one finds overall, that the county is ranked low on the scale nationwide. Pointing out the fact has gotten me called a moron, a freak, and a troll. I was told by one person that I was denying cancer deaths altogether because I showed the lack of a claimed cluster for the area. But what is more interesting and confusing, is the person making the cancer cluster claim, posted a link in response making the claim that proving geographical cancer clusters was impossible. I'm still scratching my head over that one. Heads you're wrong, tails I'm right.
It gets worse. I have read through links provided by posters on the site used to prove their fears about the dangers of the radiation leaked, but the links are vague and seem to go to great lengths to avoid anything specific, and God help someone who asks for specific details such as the isotopes leaked and at what rates.
Once you get into half-lives and dose rates, you are told: "a lot of people think they know what science is from pop culture." I am going to go out on a limb here and say she means The Big Bang Theory.
Explaining the science and math needed to draw a proper conclusion is ignored. One poster responded, "I don't care about the math and science, I care about what I believe." I have to say I respect his honesty, even though I abhor his pride in his ignorance. No, his stupidity. Ignorance can be overcome. Most people responded with what is best described as a wave of the hand and a "Yeah, but..."
The problem is we do not teach much science or math anymore. And when someone fails to grasp what is covered in school, we tell them it's okay and promote them anyway. Later when it counts, they fail to understand they are not being informed and when an attempt is made to help they take issue with the truth and are proud they don't understand it.
Another part of this problem is a need for a growing number of people to be scared of something, and the more science and math involved in the issue the deeper their fear. And there is a lot of money in scaring people, just ask Alex Jones.
The fearful, fear being set free of their fear and resent anyone who attempts to shed the light of truth on their perceived fears.
Our educational system has raised a generation of people unable to think who become angry when asked to at least try.
"Here is a link, from the internet so it must be true."
Is there a radiation danger in the area around the accident site? I don't know. What I do know is that attempts to find specific data are either ensconced in wording which is meaningless or avoided altogether. The wealth of information online is agenda driven and lite (I'm being nice) on science. There are no links to date that present meaningful facts, and sadly, each are proud of their lack of facts.
On the radio, "Today in sports, 7-0, 110 to 101 and 3 zip."
Listener, "hear that my team won."