Radiation Leak In The Rhone
Ξ July 28th, 2008 | → 2 Comments | ∇ A Day at a Time, International Terroirs, Technology, Wine News, Wineries |
On July 8th the French govt. revealed the release of 7,900 gallons of liquid containing an estimated 12 grams per liter of non-enriched uranium from the Tricastin Nuclear Power Center near Bollene. Of the total 7,900 gallons spilled around 4,700 gallons made its way into the Gaffiere and Lauzon rivers, both of which empty into the Rhone.
July 10 brought this news: “Residents in the Vaucluse, a popular southern French tourist destination, were banned yesterday from drinking well-water or swimming or fishing in two rivers after a uranium leak from one of France’s nuclear power plants.”
Other communities have followed with bans of their own. (However, as of this writing the bans have been lifted. Govt. tests of tap water and urine samples have found radiation levels consistent with normal background exposure.)
A second leak was subsequently discovered in an underground pipe. It appears the pipe may have been leaking for quite some time. This development had forced the French govt. to call for the testing of the ground water at all nuclear facilities throughout the country.
July 27th brought an excellent summation of the social upset caused by these recent events. It may be found here.
Of specific interest to Reign of Terroir is the use of the water from the Rhone and affected tributaries on the multitude of downriver vineyards throughout the region’s AOCs. Update to come.
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