Another Crumbling Reactor Springs a Tritium Leak

mdsolar writes "The decrepit nuclear reactor Vermont Yankee has sprung a radioactive leak similar to those at other poorly run reactors in Illinois (Braidwood, Byron and Dresden), Arizona (Palo Verde), and New York (Indian Point). Greenpeace noted 3 years ago that radioactive tritium leaks even threaten Champagne from France. Tritium and its decay product helium 3 are incredibly valuable and there is currently a shortage of helium 3. What, besides shutting down leaky old nuclear plants, could be done to better control release of tritium into the environment?"

Comments

Re:Carbon taxes

[Afforess]

Wait, What? Coal Power is too cheap, so we should tax it heavily? Says who? You? Who gives you that right to decide what power is more "pure" than another?

Re:WTF is up with the summary?

[biryokumaru]

I'm not certain, but I think it was either Hanford or Three-Mile Island in the US that exposed a bunch of people to a ton of radiation, but only told them it was a minuscule amount (like 200 microcuries, but really it was 2000 curies or something). A ton of people did not fair well.

Like in your example, more transparency was needed. This is why we need things like the NRC to enforce standards, so that the public is more well informed.

Unfortunately, old accidents have "informed" the public that a mere 200 microcuries will do 2000 curies worth of damage, which is madness. Public schools should be teaching the real hazardous levels of things like radiation and electricity (30v and whatnot). Then they would be able to say that the leak in Vermont is only 200 microcuries per liter or something and everyone would see that and go "That's a fairly trivial amount." You know?

But ya. Lies are bad.