Tests Confirm No Radioactivity Release to Environment from IAEA Seibersdorf Lab, After 3 August Incident

(Extract from IAEA News)

There was an incident at the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)´s Seibersdorf Laboratory on 3 August, 2008. The Laboratory is located about 35 km southeast of Vienna, Austria. The laboratories provide research and training in applying nuclear science to environmental protection, insect pest control, plant breeding, human and animal health, as well as physical and chemical studies, and nuclear instrumentation.

Tiny amount of plutonium contained in an acid solution spilled from five small glass vials when one of them burst after a build up of pressure in it. The vials were stored in a secure steel safe. In total there was less than one gram of plutonium in the five vials. The material was in the laboratory for scientific reference purposes and virtually all of the contamination was confined within the steel walled safe.

An automatic alarm was triggered when the highly sensitive detectors of the continuous air monitoring system identified minor amounts of radioactive aerosols in the storage room containing the safe. The air contamination was trapped entirely in the filters of the ventilation system. The IAEA emergency response team promptly secured and sealed off the windowless storage room.

An investigation into the circumstances and causes of the incident is still underway. In the meantime the first stage of the clean-up of the storage room was successfully completed on 22 August, 2008. Further independent tests confirmed that there was no release of activity to environment.

According to the IAEA´s nuclear regulator´s assessment of the incident, the lab´s safety systems worked properly and successfully contained the contamination. The incident was rated as level 1 (anomaly) on the Nuclear and Radiological Event Scale (INES) of events. The INES scale has seven categories, the most serious being a "major accident."

An example of good safety culture is set by the IAEA that even small incidents of this type need to be investigated and reported.

New ICRP Draft report for consulting-Rehabilitation

New ICRP draft report “Application of the Commission’s Recommendations to the Protection of Individuals Living in Long Term Contaminated Territories after a Nuclear Accident or Radiation Emergency”, Version 4 dated 22/7/2008 is available in the ICRP site (www.icrp.org) for public consulting. This is a companion document to the draft report on Emergency Exposure Situations posted earlier for consulting.

The present report provides guidance on the application of the Commission’s recommendations on the above topic. This post-accident (late phase) rehabilitation situation is considered by the Commission as an Existing Exposure Situation. There are six chapters and 3 Annexures. The last date to receive comments is: October 13, 2008.

Bolstering Nuclear Security at China Olympics

It is reported that China and the IAEA have been working over the last 18 months to bolster the country´s security plan and minimize threats at the Summer Olympics, during 8-24 August, 2008 at Beijing. A radiological dimension was added to their existing security plans so that security for the Olympics is as comprehensive as possible.

The thrust of the IAEA´s work in Beijing is to help integrate radiological planning into existing security arrangements for police, intelligence community and bomb squads based in China. Through advisory missions and training exercises, the IAEA is assisting Chinese authorities with various aspects of radiation detection, physical protection, and emergency response. Efforts to enhance nuclear security arrangements for the Games are largely coordinated with the China Atomic Energy Authority (CAEA).

For several years now, the IAEA has provided specialized technical assistance and expert advice to countries who host major public international events. In addition to its work on the 2008 Summer Games, the IAEA has supported nuclear security measures for the 2004 Olympics in Greece, the 2006 FIFA World Cup in Germany, and the 2007 Pan American Games in Brazil.

Avoid excessive mobile usage

In spite of repeated news appearing in World Wide Web and in newspapers, little attention is paid to the harmful effects of the radiation emitted by the mobile phones and the cell towers. One can see that the lifestyle change has resulted in usage of mobile phones by almost everybody (2 out of 4) and the children are fascinated by the mobiles. Parents give the mobiles in small children’s hand as a toy, and to school going children as a status symbol.

The radiation levels reported in one of the news papers, Mumbai Mirror, are quite high in many places in Mumbai city and needs urgent response from the government. The radiation dose received depends on the period of exposure. Less time you spend talking, lower is the dose received from the mobile.

A landmark research study carried out in US and Denmark into the use of handsets which may have major public health implications, showed health effects in the children whose mothers have used mobile phones when they were pregnant. The researchers surveyed 13,000 children and found that even less frequent usage was sufficient to increase the health risk to the children.

There is a need for strict regulation to ensure that the manufacturers of the mobile phones and the service providers maintain the radiation emission levels much lower than the stipulated standards. Base stations/towers near schools and crowded areas should be avoided. There should be a dedicated regulatory body for strict regulation of the mobile phone usage. The regulators should also look into the safety of erecting antenna on the residential building tops. The RF radiation levels should periodically monitored in city areas, and around schools. The readings should be displayed for public knowledge and for checking compliance with the set limits by regulators.