Radioactive waste near New Mexico water supply not a health risk, officials say

[ensho]

http://www.smartplanet.com/business/blog/smart-takes/officials-say-radioactive-waste-near-new-mexico-water-supply-not-a-health-risk/1875/


Radioactive waste is seeping from mountain burial sites in the canyons of northern New Mexico and moving toward the area’s springs and streams, but officials insist it’s not a health risk

-snip-

The nuclear waste from the production of those weapons was buried deep within mountains in the area. But the L.A. Times reports that the mountains haven’t contained the waste, some of which has trickled down to the Rio Grande, a vital water resource for the Southwest.

Unsafe concentrations of organic compounds — such as perchlorate, used to make rocket propellent, and radioactive byproducts of nuclear fission — have been found in runoff in canyons that drain into the river, according to the report.

-snip-

Here’s a frightening quote from the story:

“When you see a child’s footprints and Tonka toys in canyons where there is plutonium, there is reason to believe that a lot more work needs to be done to make the environment safe,” said Ron Curry, secretary of the New Mexico Environment Department.

In 2002, the department issued a cleanup order for the sites, but lab officials resisted the order for years before agreeing to a revised plan to clean about 2,000 contaminated sites by 2015.

-snip-

More evidence has been found. The L.A. Times report notes that unsafe levels of DEHP, an organic compound used in plastics and explosives, were found in an aquifer and high concenetrations of plutonium were found after an area water main stirred up sediment.
-snip-
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just because you can't smell, taste or see it doesn't mean its not there.

and the damage done to children isn't always identified as coming from the poisons.

[gateley]

1. I can't help but think that radioactive ANYTHING is a health risk. nt

[Odin2005]

10. There is natural radioactivity all around you.

There is Carbon-14 in the air we breath. Potassium-40 (the most common source of radiogenic mutation) in our bones, Radon coming up from the granite under your feet, etc.

[intheflow]

2. This is just stupid beyond belief!

:wtf:

[Liberation Angel]

3. Nuclear waste is leeching into the groundwater at some nuclear plants

The waste stored on site is getting into the groundwater under at least one plant that I am aware of at a decommissioned nuclear power plant. My cousins both died of brain cancers (they lived downstream) in their early forties. Two beautiful women with beautiful kids.

Horrible.

[Liberation Angel]

4. One nuke plant used radioactive soil and used it for a little league field

This is a national problem anywhere there are nuclear plants and storage of waste. It is practically inevitable as the shit must be stored for more than 200,000 years (hell, history is only 10,000 years so far)

http://docs.google.com/gview?a=v&q=cache%3AN1sAtGAZ7SQJ%3Awww.nukewatch.com%2FWisconsinsdebate%2Fgroundwatercontamination1.pdf+Haddam%22+%22connecticut+yankee%22+%22Nuclear+waste%22+groundwater&hl=en&gl=us&sig=AFQjCNFgYnthSOXwT__53ptMRsogb2DaZA&pli=1

I did a google search on such contamination and it is truly scary:

http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&safe=off&client=safari&rls=en&num=100&ei=EW70StSRLIOnlAfDtOW1Aw&sa=X&oi=spell&resnum=0&ct=result&cd=1&ved=0CAYQBSgA&q=Haddam%22+%22connecticut+yankee%22+%22Nuclear+waste%22+groundwater&spell=1

This is the plant my two female cousins who both died of brain cancer lived downstream from (within ten miles) --- they both lived next to the water downstream. They were both in their early forties with two young children each.

It is one reason I fight so hard or these issues to be heard here and understood.

The nuclear industry KILLS.

[Javaman]

5. You should repost this in the environmental/energy forum...

the wolves will come out to get you.

[ensho]

6. I raised, trained, showed Akitas - I'm not scared of wolves

but thanks for caring.

[Javaman]

8. Good answer. :) cheers! nt

[L0oniX]

7. ...and water is scarce there in NM as it is now and has been.

[woo me with science]

9. It's the GOOD kind of radioactive waste. nt