Tritium found in S.C. groundwater

COLUMBIA, S.C., Oct. 11 (UPI) -- U.S. and state officials were investigating radioactive material in the groundwater at a nuclear plant in South Carolina.

Tritium levels were at twice the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's safe drinking water level on the Catawba site at a Duke Energy nuclear power plant in York County, The State (Columbia, S.C.) reported.

Though not as toxic as other radioactive pollutants such as plutonium, the newspaper said, tritium can increase the risk of cancer. Tritium is a radioactive material produced by weapons complexes and nuclear power plants.

There have been at least three leaks of radioactive material at the Catawba plant since 1992, a report filed by David Lochbaum, a nuclear safety expert with the Union of Concerned Scientists in Washington, said. Most nuclear power plants have some sort of leak, he added.

Duke Energy found the leak in York County while testing groundwater in the area of the nuclear plant, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission said.