Tritium, a radioactive isotope, was found in the water of several municipalities in Lozère. Its presence concerns the authorities, although the concentrations measured are below the regulatory thresholds.
Should we be worried? Recent analyzes carried out by the Commission for Independent Research and Information on Radioactivity (Criirad) and the media Mediapart have revealed the presence of tritium in the drinking water of several municipalities in France, including six in Lozère. If you don't know what tritium is, it is a radioactive isotope of hydrogen, which emits beta radiation. It is naturally present in the atmosphere, but it is particularly generated by the nuclear industry, where it is often released into the environment, as Criirad explains. Due to its low radiation energy, tritium is generally considered less dangerous than other forms of radioactivity, but it can pose a risk if concentrations in drinking water are high or with prolonged exposure.
The municipalities concerned in Lozère
In France, more than 2,300 municipalities are affected. According to Médiapart: “The drinking water of nearly 10 million French people is affected by radioactive pollution from nuclear power plants. » If we zoom in on Lozère, traces of tritium have been observed in the groundwater and their drinking water networks in the municipalities of Mende, Pied-de-Borne, Saint-Alban-sur-Limagnole, Paulhac-en-Margeride , Albaret-Sainte-Marie and Grandvals.
Here are the analysis results for these municipalities between 2016 and 2023:
- century : out of 434 analyzes carried out, 58 revealed the presence of tritium (13% of tests), with a maximum concentration of 8 Bq/l.
- Pied-de-Borne : among the 23 tests carried out, 7 detected tritium (30% of analyses), with a maximum of 9 Bq/l.
- Saint-Alban-sur-Limagnole : out of 82 analyses, only one showed the presence of tritium (1%), with a maximum concentration of 8.4 Bq/l.
- Paulhac-en-Margeride : out of 6 analyses, 4 revealed tritium (67%), with a maximum of 7.6 Bq/l.
- Albaret-Sainte-Marie : 13 analyzes were carried out, only one of which showed a concentration of tritium (8%), with a maximum of 7.5 Bq/l.
- Grandvals : in this municipality, all the analyzes carried out (2 tests) showed traces of tritium, with a maximum value of 10 Bq/l.
The health risks of titrium
The presence of tritium in drinking water is a worrying subject because it is an emitter of beta radiation, as Criirad points out. In principle, low concentrations are not considered dangerous in the short term, in particular because tritium is less radioactive than other isotopes. However, accumulation of tritium in the body over a prolonged period could potentially increase the risk of cancer, particularly if exposure levels are higher than safety standards.
Although the concentrations recorded in the municipalities of Lozère do not exceed the 10 Bq/l mark, a threshold which remains below the regulatory limits for drinking, Criirad calls for increased vigilance. The levels recorded, although initially considered low, may pose risks if exposed regularly and thresholds are exceeded over time. Criirad underlines the importance of strengthening controls and monitoring of drinking water in these affected areas, although the results are not alarming at this stage.
