nuclear-news

Spill an ‘unusual event’ or business as usual?

BRACEVILLE — Exelon officials say tritium was released because of an “unusual event.”

Tritium was released 100 feet into the air around 9 p.m. Thursday, Exelon said, as part of normal nuclear power plant operations — or at least it’s normal when there is a power outage………………….

The steam released into the air from Braidwood Generating Station in Braceville, contained 11,500 to 38,000 picocuries of tritium per liter of water.

Tritium is a radioactive hydrogen isotope that is a byproduct created when nuclear reactors produce electricity. Exposure reportedly can increase the risk of cancer, birth defects and genetic damage.

…………. The release is allowed under the station’s operating license, which is regulated by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.

Radioactive Canadians a daily occurrence at U.S. border Highly sensitive equipment picks out border-crossers who have undergone radiological procedures
By Jeff Lee, Canwest News Service August 4, 2009
“…………….In what one U.S. Customs and Border Protection officer says is now “a daily occurrence,” American border agents are pulling aside people who have undergone nuclear medical procedures such as stress tests and radiation treatments. You could say they’re now catching Canadians with glowing hearts……………………..

It turns out the problem is so widespread that many hospitals in Canada now issue special identification cards at no cost to patients, according to Dr. Damien Maharaj, the head of nuclear medicine for the Fraser Health Authority.

Maharaj said if patients tell technicians they plan to travel across borders, they will receive a card indicating when, how much and what type of isotope was used. The cards also include a contact number at the hospital. Most treatments will remain detectable for several weeks to several months.