A Misdiagnosis with Unseen Consequences
Albert Stevens, a house painter from Ohio, was admitted to the University of California Hospital in San Francisco in 1945 with what doctors mistakenly believed was terminal cancer. On May 14, 1945, he was unknowingly injected with 131 kBq (3.55 μCi) of plutonium, becoming part of a secret human radiation experiment conducted under the Manhattan Project. The injection was intended to study how plutonium moved through the human body.
Carrying Plutonium for Two Decades
The plutonium remained in Stevens’ body for the rest of his life, slowly decaying through radioactive processes. Over 20 years, he accumulated a total radiation dose of 64 Sv (6400 rem)—far exceeding what is typically considered fatal. However, he did not develop radiation sickness and continued to live an active life.
The Hidden Experiment Uncovered
Despite being part of this classified study, Stevens was never informed of his exposure. His urine and stool samples were collected for years to analyze plutonium excretion. The truth about his role in the experiment remained hidden until government documents were declassified in the 1990s.
A Case That Sparked Investigations
Stevens passed away on January 9, 1966, from heart disease at the age of 79. Decades later, investigative reports revealed the full extent of the radiation experiments, leading to public scrutiny and government investigations into human testing practices.
In 1945, Albert Stevens, a house painter from Ohio, unknowingly became part of a secret government experiment. Doctors misdiagnosed him with terminal cancer and injected him with plutonium. He carried the highest radiation dose ever recorded in a human—without knowing it.🧵👇 pic.twitter.com/7IJTL0edw6
— Detective Tiger's Stories (@TigerDetective) February 11, 2025