High levels of radioactive material found in water under N.Y
High levels of radioactive material found in water under N.Y. nuclear plant
WHITE PLAINS, N.Y. – High levels of a radioactive material – nearly three times the amount permitted in drinking water – were found in groundwater near the Hudson River beneath a nuclear plant, the owner said Tuesday.
The groundwater does not intersect drinking supplies, and although the strontium-90 is believed to have reached the Hudson it would be safely diluted in the river, said Jim Steets, spokesman for Entergy Nuclear Northeast.
The strontium – which in high doses can cause cancer – was found in a well dug in a search for the source of a leak of radioactive water at the Indian Point complex, about 30 miles north of New York City.
The test well is among nine dug in an attempt to pinpoint the leak. Contaminated water was first found in August.
Entergy's finding matched tests by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission on the same sample, Steets said.
The sample also yielded tritium, another potential carcinogen, at levels well above the drinking water standard. High levels had been found earlier in another test well. The nuclear commission announced Monday that it would investigate releases of tritium at Indian Point and other plants.
Neil Sheehan, a commission spokesman, said the agency still believes the radioactivity – given that it is not in drinking water – is well below the level that would “pose a risk to public health and safety.”
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Strontium 90 :
DETECTION
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Radiation detectors will detect the beta emission (0.20 MeV);
the yttrium-90 daughter also emits a beta particle (at 0.94 MeV)
(yttrium-90 has a half-life of 64 hours).
Because of the low penetration of beta particles,
the classic symptoms of radiation sickness in exposed individuals
are unlikely to be a prompt indicator of strontium-90 release.
However, beta burns may appear within a few days of a release.
SYMPTOMS AND EFFECTS
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Strontium-90 will be detectable in urine after exposure, a
nd urine monitoring is the recommended bioassay technique;
direct in-vivo measurement is also possible with specialized equipment.
Strontium-90 metal is not a significant chemical toxin;
however, the metal is dangerous because it may ignite,
producing thermal injuries. Some strontium compounds are slightly toxic.
Primary hazards due to strontium-90 are prompt radiation injuries
from exposures to large quantities (likely to be rare)
and radiation-induced cancers due to long term exposure.
"Beta burns" may result from direct skin exposure to strontium-90.
For large exposures, burning or itching, sometimes accompanied by a transient erythema,
may be noted within the first forty-eight hours of exposure.
This is followed by a latent period which may last up to two weeks,
after which the affected area will take on the appearance of a mild thermal burn or sunburn.
This is followed by epilation (usually spotty) and the formation of skin lesions,
which may be superficial and dry or deep and wet depending on the degree of damage.
High inhaled doses may produce radiation pulmonitis,
which manifests as an increasingly severe shortness of breath
with pulmonary crepitus detectable on auscultation. This may proceed to hypoxic coma.
Classic radiation sickness is not likely with a release of strontium-90
alone unless a victim is exposed to extremely large amounts.
However, strontium-90 may be released in combination
with other radioisotopes which may induce radiation sickness.
Initial symptoms of radiation sickness may include:
weakness
anorexia
vomiting
diarrhea
These symptoms are followed after a latent period by the symptoms
of the major radiation sickness syndromes,
which are discussed in greater detail in the Radiation Sickness document.
