A drum inspected last week at the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant showed evidence of cracking and heat damage, possibly revealing the source of a February radiation leak.
After earlier inspections turned up damaged bags of magnesium oxide inside panel 7 at the repository, photos taken Thursday showed a container of waste from Los Alamos National Laboratory with a cracked lid. The DOE announced the discovery the following day, adding that crews continue to investigate the cause of the damage and whether other containers are affected. Earlier this month, the DOE reported it is studying the possibility that nitrate salts could have created a chemical reaction when exposed to organic matter in recently changed absorbent.
In Friday's update, the DOE also announced it completed its bioassay program for workers at risk of radiation exposure from the Feb. 14 leak. Among 140 people monitored, 22 were exposed to radioactive contaminants. No lifetime dose from the incident, though, was expected to exceed 10 millirem; and no adverse health consequences were expected as a result.