AP IMPACT: Tritium leaks found at many nuke sites

[xchrom]

http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_AGING_NUKES_PART_2?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2011-06-21-06-10-15

BRACEVILLE, Ill. (AP) -- Radioactive tritium has leaked from three-quarters of U.S. commercial nuclear power sites, often into groundwater from corroded, buried piping, an Associated Press investigation shows.

The number and severity of the leaks has been escalating, even as federal regulators extend the licenses of more and more reactors across the nation.

Tritium, which is a radioactive form of hydrogen, has leaked from at least 48 of 65 sites, according to U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission records reviewed as part of the AP's yearlong examination of safety issues at aging nuclear power plants. Leaks from at least 37 of those facilities contained concentrations exceeding the federal drinking water standard - sometimes at hundreds of times the limit.

While most leaks have been found within plant boundaries, some have migrated offsite. But none is known to have reached public water supplies.

[madokie]

1. 'sometimes at hundreds of times the limit.'

extending licenses, what insanity.
Its not like the wars going on doesn't negate the efforts to curb co2 here at a detriment to the people who come after us, Hell us too
Think for a second that I believe that none has reached public water supplies, not a chance on that

[ThomWV]

2. Tritium has a half life of about 12 years

Not to mention that its a naturally occurring isotope of the most common element in the universe.

[ret5hd]

3. "sometimes at hundreds of times the limits"...

So let us assume it is at an even 200 times the limit.

in 12 years (assuming no new contamination) it will be 100 times the limit.
in 24 years it will be 50 times the limit.
in 36 years it will be 25 times the limit
in 48 years i guess i won't care 'cause i'll be long dead and you suckers can fend for yourselves.

is that about how it works?

[ThomWV]

4. Pretty much, but by the 10th half life (about 120 years in this case)

After 10 half lives you can consider it gone.

[ret5hd]

5. Well, I feel so much better now! Carry on!