MORRIS, Ill. — Exelon Corp. says routine monitoring revealed that a tritium (TRIHT’-ee-um) leak was contained at its Dresden nuclear plant last week.
MORRIS, Ill. — Exelon Corp. says routine monitoring revealed that a tritium (TRIHT’-ee-um) leak was contained at its Dresden nuclear plant last week. Officials at the Grundy County plant say there’s no public safety hazard. Tritium is a radioactive form of hydrogen found in groundwater, but it’s more concentrated in nuclear reactor water. Testing showed 3.2 million picocuries per liter of water in a monitoring well, storm drains and a concrete vault. That’s a high amount as the Environmental Protection Agency’s limit on drinking water is 20,000. The Nuclear Regulatory Commission says it’s a much different scenario from a series of leaks dating back to 1996 at Exelon’s Braidwood nuclear plant. The situation prompted a $5 million environmental study and led to stricter guidelines. ______ Copyright 2009 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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