International experts from several countries said in a meeting held at Spain recently that urgent steps are needed to protect people from radioactive material that can inadvertently end up at junk and scrap yards.
In the last three years, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has become aware of around 500 events involving uncontrolled ionizing radiation sources, about 150 of which were related to sources found in scrap metal or contaminated goods or materials. A large portion of the scrap metal that is consumed annually is traded internationally, and may originate in one country and be transported long distances before being processed in another country. This is clearly a global problem that hence requires the application of a globally harmonized approach involving all stakeholders, says the IAEA official.
The regulatory approach is based on providing International Safety Standards by the IAEA (which is in place), and provide better guidance to regulators, scrap dealers, and metal recycling industries on how to deal with problems when they occur. The scope of the new protocol involves the detection and monitoring of radioactivity in the storage facilities and industries where scrap metal is collected and handled. Key elements include creating a register of ascribed companies, monitoring material at the entrance of the facilities as well as the final products and waste, and establishing sequence of actions to be taken when radioactivity is detected in the scrap.
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