The Issue
In June, Greenpeace released a report criticizing Canada's regulations on tritium, a radioactive isotope and by-product of many nuclear power facilities. While the report admittedly offered limited evidence for increased health effects from exposure to higher levels of tritium, it presented ample documentation in support of its claim that "Canadian regulatory limits for tritium in drinking water are some of the most lax in the world."
(pdf of the report)
Conflicting Views:
Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty:
"There is no evidence the release of radioactive tritium into the Great Lakes by Ontario nuclear power plants poses a public health threat."
The Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission:
"Tritium levels around the province's nuclear plants are not a health hazard."
Ontario Power Generation Spokesman:
"I would say that our plant would not operate if we believed there was any safety threat."
June 2007 Greenpeace Report:
"The levels of tritium around the facilities are so high, children under four and pregnant women shouldn't live within 10 kilometres of one of them. Furthermore, anything grown within five kilometres of a nuclear generating station shouldn't be eaten."(paraphrased)
The Facts
Current Legal Limits on Tritium in Drinking Water:
▪ Canada: 7,000 Bq/L.
▪ United States: 740 Bq/L
▪ European Union: 100 Bq/L
▪ World Health Organization Guideline: 1,000 Bq/L.
(A Bq is a Becquerel, the derived unit of radioactivity.)
Whats Being Done About It
In 1994, an Ontario government panel recommended reducing the Canadian limit to 100 Bq/L, then lowering it further to 20 Bq/L over five years. In the face of a Hydro One claim that this would cost them 1 Billion Dollars to do, the government refused to institute the reforms.Last September, the Toronto Board of Health urged the federal government to lower the amount of tritium to that recommended by the 1994 provincial panel but no changes were implemented.
According to this June 12th CBC article however, Ontario Environment Minister Laurel Broten has ordered the provincial advisory council on drinking water standards to look into levels of tritium in drinking water and assess whether the current federal regulations are sufficient. According to their website, the council's annual report is due in two days. If there is going to be any reform on this issue, it appears that this is going to be the source.
