Officials from the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission and Atomic Energy of Canada (AECL) confirmed that the third water leak in three months occurred at the Chalk River nuclear reactor on February 22.
The facility is a major supplier of medical isotopes for the U.S. and other parts of the world. CBC News reported that the reactor remains online and medical isotope supply was not interrupted.
An AECL official said 11 kilograms of water that contained a higher-than-normal amount of the hydrogen isotope deuterium were ventilated from the reactor after two tiny pinholes were found in a pipe Sunday morning.
Related Reading
Chalk River back online, February 18, 2009
Chalk River closes again temporarily, February 17, 2009
Report: Canada's isotope supply 'fragile,' January 29, 2009
Report: Use of low-enriched uranium in medical isotopes is feasible, January 15, 2009
NRCG reactor will be down longer, December 22, 2008
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