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Possible Radioactive Leak Investigated At Washington Nuclear Site (upi.com)

Authorities are investigating radioactive material found on a worker's clothing one week after a tunnel collapse at the waste nuclear waste site in the state of Washington. Around 7 p.m. Thursday, Washington River Protection Solutions, a government contractor contractor in charge of all 177 underground storage tanks at the nuclear site. detected high radiation readings on a robotic device that seven workers were pulling out of a tank. Then, contamination was also discovered on the clothing of one worker -- on one shoe, on his shirt and on his pants in the knee area.

"Radiological monitoring showed contamination on the unit that was three times the planned limit. Workers immediately stopped working and exited the area according to procedure," said Rob Roxburgh, deputy manager of WRPS Communications & Public Relations said to KING-TV. Using leak-detection instruments, WRPS said it did not find liquid escaping the tank. "Everybody was freaked, shocked, surprised," said a veteran worker, who was in direct contact with crew members. "[The contamination] was not expected. They're not supposed to find contamination in the annulus [safety perimeter] of the double shell tanks."

Washington's attorney general, urging a federal clean-up of the site, insists "This isn't the first potential leak and it won't be the last."

4 of 94 comments (clear)

  1. Re:I used to work at Hanford Site... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0, Funny

    What does Hercules have to do with radiation?

  2. I don't think so. by Gravis+Zero · · Score: 3, Funny

    As a superhero in training, I've licked every part of that nuclear site to expose myself to radiation and while one puddle made my teeth feel warm, I still don't have any superpowers, so I would say it's a safe bet that this is a false alarm. It's unrelated but does anyone know a good dentist? Because my teeth recently fell out. ;)

    --
    Anons need not reply. Questions end with a question mark.
  3. Re:I used to work at Hanford Site... by msauve · · Score: 4, Funny

    "Who carries around old smoke detectors?"

    Americium, Fuck Yeah!

    --
    "National Security is the chief cause of national insecurity." - Celine's First Law
  4. Pants... by Tomahawk · · Score: 3, Funny

    Outside of the North Americas we use the word "trousers", with "pants" refers to underwear. So seeing a phrase like "radioactive material was found on his pants" tends to raise some eyebrows...