Radioactive Waste Found in Ontario Groundwater

Ontario Ministry of Environment officials are downplaying the discovery of high levels of a radioactive substance called tritium found recently in the groundwater of a Pembroke landfill.

"While there was tritium in the ground water at the site, [it was] well below our ministry standards," said Ministry spokesperson Kate Jordan. "We don't feel that they pose a risk to the community or to the environment."

Tritium is widely used in nuclear weapons for boosting a fission bomb or the fission primary of a thermonuclear weapon.

The highest level found in the dump's groundwater was 1,000 Becquerel/Litre - which is 7 times lower than the level considered "safe" under Ontario law.

Not very reassuring when you consider that the the European Union's "safe" level of Tritium concentrations in water is 100 Becquerel/Litre. In California the allowable level of Tritium in groundwater is 15 Bq/Litre.