[ RadSafe ] Indian radioactive metal found in Germany

[Brennan, Mike (DOH)]

On a more serious side, there really isn't a point in treating this
steel as radioactive waste.  I don't know what the disposal rate for rad
waste in Germany is, but I bet it is fairly high.  5 tonnes (or tons, as
we say in the US) of steel isn't really that large a volume.  They don't
say what the activity levels are, but I suspect they aren't really all
that high.  Co-60 has a 5.27 year half life, so in probably 10 to 30
years there won't be enough activity to worry even easily worried
people.  There are a lot of secure places where a container or two of
material with stickers saying "do not open before Christmas 2020" could
be left for much less than throwing it into a rad waste site.  Shoot, it
could even be used for shielding for something that is really
radioactive.  
 
-----Original Message-----
From: radsafe-bounces at radlab.nl [mailto:radsafe-bounces at radlab.nl] On
Behalf Of ROY HERREN
Sent: Monday, February 16, 2009 1:47 AM
To: radsafe at radlab.nl
Subject: [ RadSafe ] Indian radioactive metal found in Germany

http://www.thelocal.de/national/20090215-17449.html

Indian radioactive metal found in Germany
Published: 15 Feb 09 14:40 CET
Online: http://www.thelocal.de/national/20090215-17449.html
German authorities have discovered more than 150 tonnes of radioactive
metal imported from foundries in India in 12 federal states, according
to a report by news magazine Der Spiegel.

Citing an internal memo from the federal environment ministry, the
magazine reported that some five tonnes of high-grade steel shavings
exceeded the legally allowed contamination limits so greatly that they
had to be handed over to the Association of Nuclear Service (GNS) which
is responsible for the disposal of waste from nuclear power plants. 

The magazine quoted unnamed experts from the environment ministry saying
the affair had a "huge dimension."

A spokeswoman from the German environment ministry on Saturday confirmed
the report but played down the severity of the incidents.

"You can't really speak of a dramatic situation. But we're taking the
problem very seriously also because it has significant economic
ramifications for the affected companies."

The ministry said the material posed no environmental or health threat
and added that no consumer products in Germany were affected. "Most of
the steel deliveries contain contamination levels below the legally
allowed limits," it said in a statement on Sunday.

Representatives from the companies that imported the contaminated metal
from India are to meet with ministry officials in the coming week.

According to the newsweekly, the material bearing traces of Cobalt-60
came from three Indian foundries and ended up in 12 of Germany's 16
federal states. The magazine said authorities were aware of
contamination in high-grade steel wires, machinery, scrap metal sheets,
valves and castings. 

The report said the first contaminated delivery was discovered in 2008
in a container full of high-grade steel bars at the Hamburg port. 

Radioactive products from India were also discovered last year in
France, Netherlands and Sweden.

DPA/The Local (news at thelocal.de)



      
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