In the heart of St. Louis during the 1950s and 1960s, a mysterious fog drifted through the streets of predominantly Black neighborhoods. Children played in it. Families breathed it in. And for decades, no one knew the truth: this was not just fog, it was a government experiment.
What Was Sprayed?
The U.S. Army admitted in 1994 to secretly spraying zinc cadmium sulfide, a compound containing cadmium, a known carcinogen, over areas like the Pruitt-Igoe housing complex. The tests were part of a Cold War program called “Large Area Coverage,” designed to simulate biological warfare dispersal patterns.
St. Louis was chosen because its urban layout resembled Moscow, making it a proxy for Soviet cities in case of attack. Army documents described the targeted area as a “densely populated slum district,” with about 75% of residents being Black.
How It Was Done
The chemical was dispersed from:
- Motorized blowers atop high-rise buildings
- Station wagons driving slowly through neighborhoods
- Rooftops and schools, often by men in hazmat suits posing as maintenance workers
Residents recall a thick, sickening fog that clung to their skin and filled the air with a chemical tang. Some children ran through it, thinking it was harmless. Others fell ill immediately.
“It was such a sickening, nauseating, it was horrible. You couldn’t see through it.”, Jacquelyn Russell
Who Was Affected?
The long-term health consequences remain deeply troubling:
- Doris Spates lost her father three months after her birth in 1955 and later watched four siblings die of cancer
- Mary Helen Brindell, who lived in a mixed-race neighborhood, battled four types of cancer: breast, thyroid, skin, and uterine
- Ben Phillips attended 10 funerals, with 7–8 cancer-related deaths among friends and neighbors
- Dr. Michael Starks had part of his kidney removed due to cancer
Many residents believe their illnesses, including kidney, brain, and eye cancers, stem from exposure to the fog.
When Did Complaints Begin?
The truth began to surface in 1994, when the government declassified documents revealing the tests. Sociologist Lisa Martino-Taylor later published research in 2012 suggesting radioactive particles may have been mixed into the compound, though direct proof remains elusive.
Community leaders like Ben Phillips and Chester Deanes formed PHACTS (Pruitt-Igoe Historical Accounting, Compensation, and Truth Seeking) to demand justice.
What Was the Resolution?
- In 1997, the National Research Council concluded that the tests did not expose residents to harmful levels—based on limited animal data
- No follow-up studies were confirmed, and no compensation or formal apology has been issued to affected residents
- In 2023, Senator Josh Hawley introduced legislation to expand Cold War-era compensation programs. Advocates are pushing to include Pruitt-Igoe victims in this effort
“We were experimented on. That was a plan. And it wasn’t an accident.” Ben Phillips
Why This Matters Today
This story is not just a historical footnote, it’s a call to action. It underscores the systemic disregard for Black lives, the legacy of environmental racism, and the urgent need for accountability. For Charles and others building platforms rooted in justice and legacy, this is a moment to amplify truth, honor resilience, and demand reparative action.
Let’s keep the fog from settling again.
