Exelon identifies likely source of tritium leak

MORRIS -- Officials with Exelon Corp's Dredsen nuclear plant have identified an aluminum pipe as the likely source of a tritium leak reported earlier this month.

The leak, which officials say posed no health threat, was discovered during routine monitoring.

Testing at the plant, which is about 60 miles southwest of Chicago, found tritium levels of 3.2 million picocuries per liter of water in a monitoring well, storm drains and concrete vault. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's limit for drinking water is 20,000 picocuries per liter.

The plant's vice president Tim Hanley says repairs are in progress. The 24-inch pipe carries water between storage tanks.

Tritium is a radioactive form of hydrogen. The EPA says exposure to tritium can increase risks for developing cancer.