Radioactive Wasp Nest Found In S.C. Not Threatening

Workers who routinely check radiation levels at the Savannah River Site near Aiken discovered the nest on July 3.

A radioactive wasp nest was found at a South Carolina site that once manufactured significant parts for nuclear bombs.

Workers who routinely check radiation levels at the Savannah River Site near Aiken discovered the nest on July 3.

The nest was situated on a post near tanks where liquid nuclear waste is stored. It had a radiation level 10 times what is allowed by federal regulations.

The employees sprayed the nest with insect killer, removed it and disposed of it as radioactive waste.

No wasps were found and officials reported that there is no danger to anyone.

Authorities also said that there is no leak from the waste tanks. They added that the nest was likely radioactive through “on-site legacy radioactive contamination” from residual radioactivity left from when the site was fully operational.