HIGHER TRITIUM LEVELS FOUND AT SANTA SUSANA FACILITY.Byline: Kerry Cavanaugh Staff Writer Radioactive contamination Radioactive contamination is the uncontrolled distribution of radioactive material in a given environment. The amount of radioactive material released in an accident is called the source term. has again been detected - at higher levels than last year - in groundwater at the Santa Susana Santa Susana can refer to several places:
In the latest round of testing at the former nuclear research facility, officials found tritium tritium (trĭt`ēəm), radioactive isotope of hydrogen with mass number 3. The tritium nucleus, called a triton, contains one proton and two neutrons. It has a half-life of 12.5 years and decays by beta-particle emission. at levels ranging from 12,000 to 117,000 picocuries per liter - the peak being nearly six times the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's standard for drinking water drinking water supply of water available to animals for drinking supplied via nipples, in troughs, dams, ponds and larger natural water sources; an insufficient supply leads to dehydration; it can be the source of infection, e.g. leptospirosis, salmonellosis, or of poisoning, e.g. . Last year, the DOE and the Boeing Co., which owns the lab, discovered tritium at a high of 80,000 picocuries per liter - four times the 20,000 ppl standard for drinking water. DOE Project Manager Mike Lopez said the recent readings of 12,000 ppl near the property boundary suggest the contamination hasn't traveled far and does not threaten drinking water supplies. ``I don't think there's any risk to the public,'' Lopez said. The DOE and Boeing will present more detailed information on the tritium tests at a community meeting Wednesday in Simi Valley. Tritium is a radioactive form of hydrogen that is produced as a byproduct by·prod·uct or by-prod·uct n. 1. Something produced in the making of something else. 2. A secondary result; a side effect. Noun 1. in nuclear reactors. Drinking tritiated water increases the risk of cancer. Groundwater at the lab is not currently used for drinking water, and lab officials have said they provided workers alternate sources of drinking water since the 1960s. Lab watchdogs said they're concerned about latest tritium findings. ``Very high doses must have existed before, as bad as it is now, it was much worse before,'' said Dan Hirsch with the Committee to Bridge the Gap. Given the new test results, it's possible the tritium in the lab's groundwater was 50 times the EPA EPA eicosapentaenoic acid. EPA abbr. eicosapentaenoic acid EPA, n.pr See acid, eicosapentaenoic. EPA, n. drinking water limit in the 1960s, when DOE officials suspect the contamination occurred. Kerry Cavanaugh, (818) 713-3746 kerry.cavanaugh(at)dailynews.com IF YOU GO Boeing Co. and the Department of Energy will hold a community meeting at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday at the Grand Vista Hotel, 999 Enchanted en·chant tr.v. en·chant·ed, en·chant·ing, en·chants 1. To cast a spell over; bewitch. 2. To attract and delight; entrance. See Synonyms at charm. Way, Simi Valley. The historical site assessment is available online at apps.em.doe.gov/etec CAPTION(S): box Box: IF YOU GO (see text) |
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