Re: Bacteria in Nuclear Reactors

["Scott D. Kniffin" <Scott.D.Kniffin.1@gsfc.nasa.gov>]

Just another note on this topic for high temp bacteria.  Some researchers
found bacteria living in a thermal vent of Mt. St. Helens at several
hundred degrees with all kinds of toxic (to us) vapors and compounds.  Lots
of sulphur too.  Never underestimate Ma Nature.

Scott Kniffin

mailto:Scott.D.Kniffin.1@gsfc.nasa.gov
RSO, Unisys Corp. @ Lanham, MD
CHO, Radiation Effects Facility, GSFC, NASA, Greenbelt, MD

The opinions expressed here are my own.  They do not necessarily represent
the views of Unisys Corporation or NASA.  This information has not been
reviewed by my employer or supervisor.  

>Hi folks,
>In the May/June issue of The Planetary Report (a publication for the 
>members of the Planetary Society, a space-exploration advocacy group which 
>is not noticeably [so far] an anti-nuc group.  See their web site at 
>http://www.planetary.org), Christopher Chyba said (in part) "bacteria have 
>adapted to survive the levels of radiation common in the cooling water of 
>nuclear reactors."
>     
>I'd be a bit surprised to learn that bacteria could survive in the primary 
>or secondary loops of a power reactor...but there's a bunch of other 
>possibilities.  Does anyone know anything about bacteria in reactor cooling 
>water?
>Thanx, ron
>       ************************************** 
>       Ron Morgan <rgmorgan@lanl.gov>
>       Operational Health Physics (ESH-1)
>       Los Alamos National Laboratory
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