Source: Hueiyen News Service
Sirsi (Karnataka), November 29 2009:
About 55 employees of the Kaiga Nuclear Power Plant in Uttara Kannada district were exposed to minor nuclear radiation after drinking contaminated water in the plant.
Routine urine tests of maintenance unit employees showed that the tritium level was higher than the normal level.
The workers were immediately hospitalised and treated.
They have now been discharged.
Anil Kakodkar, chairman of the Atomic Power Commission told television channels the incident and contents of the water in the water cooler are being investigated.
Tritium, also known as Hydrogen-3, is used in research, fusion reactors and neutron generators.
Scientists carried out immediate checks for radioactivity at the plant site but no leakage was detected, sources said.
KAPS-I has been shut down since October 20 for annual maintenance.
Exposure to such radiation increases the risk of cancer among other side effects.