AP obtained Air Force documents on nuclear missile programs dating back to the 1980s under the Freedom of Information Act.
In an investigation dated December 30, 2001, the Air Force stated that the work areas were "non-hazardous" and that many people working on these projects are now battling cancer or have died of cancer.
In the documents, it was reported that some of the workers in underground nuclear missile pods and silos contracted cancer due to the toxic substances they were exposed to, and that the asbestos measured in these areas was found to be 50 times higher than the safety standards of the US Environmental Protection Agency.
The documents also included reports that dark liquids were sometimes found on the floors of the facilities, that computers overheated and leaked a fishy-smelling gel that made workers nauseous, and notes sent by workers to each other saying "there is no fresh air left here".
Data from the investigation, which the Air Force reopened this year after several cancer cases were reported, is expected to be released in early 2024.
