[ RadSafe ] Re: [ Tritium]-- Exelon Nuclear to Launch TritiumInspection Program -------

[jjcohen at prodigy.net]

I suspect you are correct in defining the tritium problem as related
primarily to public relations. Given that this is the case generally, why do
we waste so much of our resources studying biological effects when the
psychological effects ( public relations) is the real problem?


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "George J. Vargo" <vargo at physicist.net>
To: "'John R Johnson'" <idias at interchange.ubc.ca>; <jjcohen at prodigy.net>;
"'RADSAFE'" <radsafe at radlab.nl>
Sent: Thursday, February 16, 2006 1:14 PM
Subject: RE: [ RadSafe ] Re: [ Tritium]-- Exelon Nuclear to Launch
TritiumInspection Program -------


The thing driving this is the settlement of a law suit involving residents
near one of Exelon's sites where elevated HTO was detected in some
surveillance wells.  Local landowners who rely on well water didn't take too
kindly to this possible nuclear fringe benefit.  Is it an imminent safety
and health issue?  I seriously doubt it.  It's a PR nightmare and does no
favors to an industry which is trying to make a comeback.  I think it's also
a financial issue vis-à-vis future decommissioning costs.

Many NPPs have outdoor tanks that contain contaminated water (e.g.,
condensate storage tanks in BWRs.)  I would hope that they all have a good
condition monitoring and surveillance program to detect degradation and
mitigate it before it becomes a cleanup issue.

George J. Vargo, Ph.D., CHP
Senior Scientist
MJW Corporation
http://www.mjwcorp.com
610-925-3377
610-925-5545 (fax)
vargo at physicist.net


-----Original Message-----
From: John R Johnson [mailto:idias at interchange.ubc.ca]
Sent: Thursday, February 16, 2006 14:30
To: jjcohen at prodigy.net; vargo at physicist.net; RADSAFE
Subject: RE: [ RadSafe ] Re: [ Tritium]-- Exelon Nuclear to Launch
TritiumInspection Program -------


All

That depends on what the "significant heath and safety problems" are. I
don't think that the "first pass" HTO causes significant problems but the
tritium that becomes organically bound may.

Regards
 _________________
John R Johnson, Ph.D.
*****
President, IDIAS, Inc
4535 West 9-Th Ave
Vancouver B. C.
V6R 2E2
(604) 222-9840
idias at interchange.ubc.ca
*****
or most mornings
Consultant in Radiation Protection
TRIUMF
4004 Wesbrook Mall
Vancouver B. C.
V6R 2E2
(604) 222-1047 Ext. 6610
Fax: (604) 222-7309
johnsjr at triumf.ca

-----Original Message-----
From: radsafe-bounces at radlab.nl [mailto:radsafe-bounces at radlab.nl]On
Behalf Of jjcohen at prodigy.net
Sent: February 16, 2006 10:14 AM
To: vargo at physicist.net; RADSAFE
Subject: [ RadSafe ] Re: [ Tritium]-- Exelon Nuclear to Launch
TritiumInspection Program -------


It seems that tritium control and mitigation programs have become
increasingly fashionable lately. Please correct me if I am wrong, but as I
recall  from previous studies, there is no way that tritium releases
(accidental or intentional) can cause significant heath and safety problems.
So what has stimulated the current concern???

----- Original Message -----
From: "George J. Vargo" <vargo at physicist.net>
To: "RADSAFE" <radsafe at radlab.nl>
Sent: Wednesday, February 15, 2006 2:25 PM
Subject: [ RadSafe ] Exelon Nuclear to Launch Tritium Inspection Program
atIts 10 Nuclear Energy Plants


Cheaper to prevent and mitigate than to clean up.

George J. Vargo, Ph.D., CHP
Senior Scientist
MJW Corporation
http://www.mjwcorp.com
610-925-3377
610-925-5545 (fax)
vargo at physicist.net



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