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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?"

7 of 466 comments (clear)

  1. A Sticky Situation by HamSammy · · Score: 4, Funny

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Duct_tape

  2. Forget about champagne by santax · · Score: 4, Funny

    is my beer in danger? That's what I would like to know!

  3. Re:Superpowers by biryokumaru · · Score: 5, Funny
    1. Harvest the tritium
    2. Sell it to people who want to make fusion
    3. Become extremely wealthy
    4. Pay everyone to pretend you've got superpowers
    --
    When you're afraid to download music illegally in your own home, then the terrorists have won!
  4. Re:Perspective by schmidt349 · · Score: 5, Funny

    IIf you're a homeopath that's worse, isn't it?

  5. No, that won't do by Krishnoid · · Score: 5, Funny

    Careful! You need to use the correct product for this problem.

  6. Re:WTF is up with the summary? by jd2112 · · Score: 5, Funny

    What, besides shutting down leaky old nuclear plants, could be done to better control release of tritium into the environment?

    Nothing. For the sake of the environment we should shut down these dirty, poluting nuclear power plants and replace them with clean eco-friendly coal burning plants at once.

    --
    Any insufficiently advanced magic is indistinguishable from technology.
  7. Re:WTF is up with the summary? by Lil'wombat · · Score: 4, Funny

    The words "crumbling," "decrepit" and "poorly run" are pretty loaded, especially referring to levels of tritium around half the limit found on site, and no detectable levels off site.

    But in his defense, he did refer to Illinois, and those three words should be the state motto.

    --

    Truth: If it's not one thing, it's another