[NukeNet] Tritium contamination shuts down Pembroke plant

[MJ]

http://www.cbc.ca/canada/ottawa/story/2006/08/21/tritium-mon.html
Tritium contamination shuts down Pembroke plant
Last Updated: Monday, August 21, 2006 | 10:18 AM ET 
CBC News 

A Pembroke, Ont., company has been ordered to cease production after
nuclear regulators found abnormally high levels of radioactive tritium in
the local soil and groundwater.

But SRB Technologies said it faces financial ruin and the loss of 40 jobs
unless Canada's Nuclear Safety Commission allows it to resume business.

SRB Technologies uses tritium gas — a radioactive isotope of hydrogen — to
make lights and glow-in-the-dark signs. They are used on road signs, at
airports and other places where signs are needed after dark, and electric
power is difficult to get.

The company has made them for years, with the approval of the nuclear
safety commission, the group that inspects all companies that use
radioactive materials.

But recent inspections have shown — and the company's own studies have
confirmed — that the groundwater and soil immediately around the plant is
heavily contaminated by radioactive tritium, in some cases at 80 times the
recommended levels.

The tritium seems to be coming from the company's smokestack, and then
falling back to earth.

The safety commission told CBC News there's no sign that either workers or
neighbours of the plant have been exposed to danger. But the commission
issued a cease-and-desist order because it said SRB Technologies hasn't
taken all reasonable steps to prevent contamination and protect the
environment.

There may be an issue with tritium affecting plants and vegetables grown
near the plant, and the smokestack plume may be carrying tritium
contamination an unknown distance.

SRB president Stephane Levesque told CBC News that the company has made
improvements in recent months. And it is hoping to get a new hearing as
soon as possible.

In the meantime, SRB is trying to keep its 40 employees on the job
assembling products that have already been manufactured.


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"I came to America because of the great, great freedom which I heard 
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innocent blood": Gandhi, Non-violence in Peace and War, 1948

Molly Johnson 
6290 Hawk Ridge Place
San Miguel, CA  93451
Cell: 805 296-0524

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