Nuclear Power Plants Threaten Drinking Water for 49 Million Americans

Environment America, January 24, 2012:
http://www.environmentamerica.org/news/ame/nuclear-power-plants-threaten-drinking-water-49-million-americans
The drinking water for millions of Americans could be at risk of radioactive contamination from a leak or accident at a local nuclear power plant, according to a new study, “Too Close to Home: Nuclear Power and the Threat to Drinking Water.” The drinking water for 49 million Americans is within 50 miles of an active nuclear power plant – the distance the Nuclear Regulatory Commission uses to measure risk to food and water supplies.  Major cities, including New York, Boston, Philadelphia, San Diego, Cleveland and Detroit receive their drinking water from sources within 50 miles of a nuclear plant. Even a common leak at a nuclear power plant can threaten the drinking water for millions of people. In fact, 75 percent of U.S. nuclear plants have leaked tritium, a radioactive form of hydrogen that can cause cancer and genetic defects.