In the mid-20th century, residents of a predominantly Black neighborhood in St. Louis, Missouri, lived under a veil of secrecy and mystery as a strange fog rolled through their streets. What was once dismissed as an eerie weather anomaly has since been revealed to be the result of covert United States Army experiments—experiments that involved spraying toxic chemicals over unsuspecting communities without their knowledge or consent.

The Mysterious Fog and Its Lingering Impact

Witnesses recall the unsettling sight and sensation of a thick, ghostlike fog descending from rooftops and flatbed trucks equipped with large nozzles. Children ran through it on hot summer days, seeking relief from the heat, while mothers frantically sealed their windows against the unwelcome haze. The substance clung to skin and clothing, emanated a foul odor, and caused symptoms ranging from headaches to nausea and dizziness.

This fog was not a natural phenomenon. Between the 1950s and 1960s, the U.S. Army secretly sprayed zinc cadmium sulfide—a compound containing cadmium, a known carcinogen—across a St. Louis neighborhood called Pruitt-Igoe. This large housing project, home to over 10,000 residents at its peak, was selected because its urban density and layout closely resembled Soviet cities such as Moscow, a potential target during the Cold War.

Human Guinea Pigs in a Cold War Experiment

Former residents describe feeling like unwitting test subjects, exploited without warning. They recount how individuals in hazmat suits, under the guise of maintenance workers, conducted the dispersal of the chemical fog. The community was neither informed of the tests nor asked for permission, raising profound ethical issues around consent and human rights.

Veterans from the neighborhood, some with military backgrounds themselves, express deep feelings of betrayal. Having served their country honorably, they now grapple with the painful realization that their own government exposed them to potentially harmful substances without their knowledge.

Government Admissions and Ongoing Controversies

The Army has since acknowledged the existence of these tests, part of a wider series of over 30 sprays across the U.S. and Canada designed to simulate the dispersal of biological weapons. These trials aimed to understand how such an attack might spread in a densely populated urban setting. However, the Army insists that the exposures did not harm residents, citing investigations conducted in the 1990s which purportedly found no significant health risk from inhalation.

Yet, critical scrutiny of these assessments tells a different story. Documents from the National Research Council’s 1997 review admit that repeated exposure to zinc cadmium sulfide can cause kidney and bone damage, as well as lung cancer, if exposure levels are sufficiently high. Further complicating the matter, key Army records related to exposure—and therefore crucial health data—either remain classified or are missing. Requests to review these documents have been met with obstacles, cited under national security grounds, leaving health risks and the full extent of exposure shrouded in secrecy.

Health Consequences and Calls for Justice

Health issues reported by former residents include rare cancers, lymphoma, and kidney problems. Many suspect a direct link between their illnesses and the chemical exposure from the fog. The lack of transparency and accountability has exacerbated the community’s frustration and mistrust.

Residents and activists are demanding a formal apology from the government, compensation, and comprehensive health studies to assess the long-term effects on those exposed and their descendants. They are also pushing for full disclosure of all related government documents to uncover the truth behind the secret sprays.

The suspicion goes beyond zinc cadmium sulfide, with some experts and researchers suggesting that radioactive materials may have also been dispersed, though official confirmations remain elusive. The government’s reluctance to declassify key information fuels concerns about a possible cover-up.

The Road Ahead: Seeking Transparency and Accountability

Grassroots activism, combined with investigative journalism and legal advocacy, shines a light on this dark chapter. Researchers continue to declassify documents, while high-profile figures such as environmental activist Erin Brockovich have lent their voices to the cause, emphasizing the apparent betrayal and call for justice.

As the empty lots of the demolished Pruitt-Igoe housing project grow over with trees, the memories and unanswered questions linger in the community. The hope remains that the truth will emerge, offering closure and recognition—and that historic wrongs will be rectified before it is too late for those affected.

The St. Louis experiments serve as a sobering reminder of the ethical obligations governments owe to their citizens, especially when engaged in secretive actions with far-reaching and potentially devastating consequences. The shadows are being unveiled, but the quest for justice and truth continues.