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Exposure to the radioactive contaminants in more recent years could increase the risk of lung cancer, according to the final report released Monday by the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry.

Coldwater Creek was contaminated decades ago by nuclear waste from the production of weapons during World War II. The waste was stored in piles near the airport, adjacent to the creek that flows from St. Ann through Florissant to the Missouri River.

In 2014, Missouri health officials asked for federal assistance after a state report showed high rates of leukemia, breast, colon and other cancers in areas surrounding the creek. The toxic substances agency, which is part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, launched the study in 2016 of potential risks of living or playing near the creek.

The agency made four conclusions after estimating the maximum potential exposure of children and adults who touched, swallowed or breathed in contaminated water or soil from Coldwater Creek and its flood plain for multiple hours a day over three decades:

鈥� Anyone who lived near or played in the creek from the 1960s to the 1990s may have been exposed to radiological contaminants that could increase the risk of lung cancer, bone cancer or leukemia. Those who were exposed daily in the 2000s after cleanup started could have a slightly increased risk of lung cancer. The risks are small and unlikely to affect the overall cancer rates in the community.

鈥� Current or former residents of the Coldwater Creek area do not need additional disease screening because of the small increased risk and potential for adverse effects from overscreening. Residents should include their possible exposure in any medical history discussions.

鈥� Cleanup of the radiological waste including thorium-230 around Coldwater Creek should continue, and signs should be posted warning the public of the ongoing potential exposure.

鈥� The agency was unable to determine the risk of other exposure routes, including inhaling dust from nuclear waste storage piles or consuming local dairy or produce.

鈥� Since the agency鈥檚 preliminary report was released last summer, the agency received numerous reports of illnesses and deaths among current and former residents. The public comments included tales of playing in the creek, gardening in adjacent backyards and, basements flooding.

While residents also expressed concerns about autoimmune diseases, infertility and birth defects, the agency focused on the community鈥檚 risk of developing cancers already known to be linked to the same contaminants.

鈥淲e recognize the losses so many people in this community have experienced, unfortunately our evaluation cannot prove or disprove that any particular illness was caused by exposure to site contaminants,鈥� the report states.

While any radiation exposure is considered potentially harmful, doses from environmental exposures like Coldwater Creek are considered to be far lower than those received by nuclear industry workers, patients receiving medical radiation or Japanese survivors of atomic bombs.

The volunteer group Coldwater Creek 鈥� Just the Facts has tracked 6,000 former and current residents of the area who have cancer diagnoses. The number includes more than 60 cases of rare appendix cancers, which the health agency did not link to exposure to the creek. Investigators also found no evidence of links to other types of cancers, fertility issues or birth defects as residents have suspected.

A statement from the group released Tuesday said they are 鈥渆ncouraged鈥� by the results of the study and will continue to pursue compensation for the residents of North County through the Radiation Exposure Compensation Act for uranium workers and people living downwind from nuclear test sites in the western U.S.

The report is available and at the Florissant Valley Branch library, 195 New Florissant Road.