Nuclear Energy

Tritium is a particularly scary material, as it is a beta emitter and is biologically very
mutagenic, being readily absorbed through the skin, lungs and the GI tract. On absorption, it
behaves like a water molecule and becomes part of the cell. Tritium causes tumors and cancer in the
lungs and GI tract. In animal experiments, even at low doses, it has been shown to shrink the
testicles and ovaries, and cause birth defects, mental retardation, brain tumours, decreased brain
weight, loss of reproductive abilities of offspring, and stunted, deformed fetuses. xcix
In the US, tritium releases have also occurred quite frequently due to leaks at nuclear reactors, due to malfunctions.c In a recent report
released in September 2010, the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission has acknowledged that more than half of America's 65 nuclear sites housing its
104 aging atomic reactors are leaking radioactive tritium. The US Environmental Protection Agency’s “allowable” standard (“allowable” does not
necessarily equal “safe”) for radioactive tritium in drinking water is 20,000 picocuries per liter of water. According to the NRC, since January 2009,
that level has been met or exceeded by releases into groundwater (not necessarily drinking water) at 37 reactor sites (out of 65). Radiation levels have
ranged from 20,000 picocuries/liter to an astonishing 15,000,000 picocuries/liter (at New Jersey’s Salem reactor complex). Radioactive tritium levels
above 1,000,000 picocuries/liter were measured at nine nuclear sites covering 18 reactors.ci
Leakages due to Radioactive Corrosion
Apart from being created during the fission reaction, radioactive products are also created in
another way in the nuclear reactor: due to bombardment of the metal piping and the reactor
containment by neutrons. This is known as radioactive corrosion. The elements thus created, which
are powerfully radioactive, include cobalt 60, iron 55, nickel 63, radioactive manganese, niobium,
zinc, and chromium. These materials slough off from the pipes into the primary coolant. Officially
called CRUD, it is so intensely radioactive that it poses a severe hazard to maintenance workers and
inspectors. Nuclear reactors during shutdowns for maintenance or refuelling routinely flush out
pipes, heat exchangers, etc., to remove the highly radioactive CRUD build-up. Some of the CRUD
is sent to radioactive waste dumps while some is released to the river, lake or sea near the reactor. cii
To Sum-up
Although the nuclear industry claims it is “emission” free, in fact it is collectively releasing
millions of curies annually. The total gaseous and liquid radioactive releases from nuclear reactors
vary enormously depending upon accidental and larger-than-normal routine releases. For instance,
in 1974, the total release from all reactors in the United States was 6.48 million curies, while in
1993 it ranged between 96,600 curies to 214,000 curies. ciii
Even these astounding figures are an underestimate, because not all the emissions are
monitored by utilities. These figures also do not include the emissions due to the CRUD removed
from reactors or the emissions due to the radioactive elements trapped in the primary coolant filters
/ gas filters – which are sent to waste dumps, from where the carcinogenic radioactive isotopes will
inevitably leak and contaminate water supplies and food chains.
Impact on Human Life
The routine emission and accidental leakages of radiation from nuclear plants obviously
means that there must be increased incidence of cancer and other diseases caused by radiation in the
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