Los Alamos:the American city with plutonium levels similar to those of Chernobyl

In Los Alamos, New Mexico, the plants and water of numerous recreational spots would contaminated by "extreme concentrations" of plutonium:this is what independent analyzes report from the team of Professor Michael Ketterer, a scientist from Northern Arizona University, who declared that he had detected the highest levels of plutonium he had ever seen in an area accessible to the public during his ten-year career in the sector , and that such levels would even be comparable to those found in Chernobyl, the site of the Ukrainian nuclear disaster.All this after the US Senate passed a law for those who have been exposed to radioactive waste, which, however, would not apply to the citizens of Los Alamos.On the other hand, the Department of Energy (DOE) stated that the levels are "very low and well below the safe exposure range", although the scientist reiterated that the environmental risk is still concerning.

The Dr.Michael Ketterer, professor emeritus of chemistry and biochemistry at Northern Arizona University, he collected some samples of water, soil and plants from the area known – not coincidentally – as Acid Canyon, in the city of Los Alamos.It all happened between July 2 and 17, with the help of Nuclear Watch New Mexico, an organization that seeks to promote safety and environmental protection at regional nuclear facilities.The champions were prepared and analyzed via mass spectrometry to measure plutonium concentrations and ascertain their sources in the environment.Alarmed by the results, Professor Ketterer he declared that the radioactive isotopes would be "hiding in plain sight", adding:“This is one of the most shocking things I have ever come across in my life.”The US Department of Energy, however, has a different opinion, stating that the levels remain well below the safe exposure range.Additionally, the DOE field office he declared:«DOE's Environmental Management Los Alamos Field Office (EM-LA) continues to collect and monitor sediment and water samples in the Acid Canyon area and results have consistently shown that plutonium levels remain very low and well below safe exposure ranges.The information presented by Dr.Ketterer and Nuke Watch are consistent with the Department's data, which has been made public for years, and further support the Department's findings that Detected levels continue to show that Acid Canyon remains safe for unrestricted use.EM-LA will continue to collect sediment and water samples to confirm that levels remain low and will remain committed to making the results available to the public."

On the other hand, the professor underlined that, although the immediate danger may be low, however, the environmental risk is worrying because «plutonium can enter water supplies, which eventually flow into the Rio Grande.The substance can be absorbed by plants and enter the food chain, or it can be widely dispersed in the ash in the event of a fire."He then added:«There really is no going back.It's a bit like trying to pick up salt that has been thrown into a shag rug.It's crazy to think you're going to get it all."Ketterer's findings and concerns also seem to confirm some findings published by Nuclear Watch New Mexico in April, which reportedly detected the migration of plutonium from Los Alamos along the Rio Grande.The organization's executive director, Jay Coghlan, commented by stating that these findings «They come at a time when the budget for weapons production has increased dramatically, with Los Alamos National Laboratory planning to spend about $8 billion to restart production from new plutonium wells.”

[by Roberto Demaio]