Cobalt-60 incident raises concerns over Thai nuclear project

["Sandy Perle" <sandyfl@earthlink.net>]

This is another attempt to treat a "willful act" in the same manner 
of regulatory control. However in this case, it's the regulators 
being attacked. The truth is, no regulatory agency can be held liable 
for an entity who wilfully violates a regulation, or, what is 
considered unethical or immoral by society standards. This case, 
disposing of highly radioactive material in a public parking lot and 
in a scrap shop will be evaluated. There will be additional 
monitoring provided at main entry points into the country. Can we in 
the USA be assured that the same type of incident doesn't occur here? 
I don't think anyone can guarantee that this couldn't happen. In 
fact, these incidents have happened, haven't they?
-------

Cobalt-60 incident raises concerns over Thai nuclear project

BANGKOK, Feb. 23 (Kyodo) - The exposure of several people to 
radioactive cobalt-60 that was found in a shop in suburban Bangkok 
last week has raised concern about the ability of Thai authorities to 
guarantee safety at its planned nuclear research center, a group of 
conservationists said Wednesday. 

The conservationists, led by the Alternative Energy Project for 
Sustainability, accused the Science, Technology and Environment 
Ministry of failing to properly control radioactive materials. 

The group said the ministry's Office of Atomic Energy for Peace has 
no records of how many objects like the one stolen last week were 
imported into Thailand, and accused it of treating the incident as a 
minor mishap. 

At least 10 people were injured from a cylinder containing cobalt-60, 
a radioactive isotope used for the treatment of cancer, found in a 
scrap shop in Samutprakan, 30 kilometers south of Bangkok. 

The environmentalist group said that according to international 
standards, authorities should have evacuated people out of the area 
where the material was discovered for safety reasons. 

It questioned whether authorities can guarantee the safety of 
residents living near the site of a nuclear research center under 
construction in the eastern province of Nakhonnayok, 70 km from 
Bangkok. 

The 3.3 billion baht ($89 million) center will have 10-megawatt 
reactors, facilities for the disposal of radioactive waste and 
isotope production facilities. 

According to the group, General Atomic Co. of the United States has 
only ever produced experimental reactors of less than 5 megawatts and 
is not certified by the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission. 

Science, Technology and Environment Minister Arthit Uurairat, 
however, played down the concerns and said the project is to 
continue. 

Most of the victims in the incident last week were workers at the 
shop who broke open the cylinder. Others include the shop owner, 
nearby residents and a scrap collector who brought the cylinders to 
the shop. 

The cylinder was used in a medical device commonly known as a 
''cobalt bomb,'' which is used to kill cancer cells with radiation. 
The object belongs to Kamol Sukosol Electric Co., which imported the 
device for a state hospital. 

The company said the hospital returned the equipment several years 
ago. 

It alleged the cylinder was stolen by the scrap collector from a 
warehouse in Bangkok where the machines were stored, adding it has 
lodged a petition with police to charge the collector. 

The Office of Atomic Energy for Peace has filed a complaint against 
the company, accusing it of failing to notify it the cobalt was 
stolen. 

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Sandy Perle					Tel:(714) 545-0100 / (800) 548-5100   				    	
Director, Technical				Extension 2306 				     	
ICN Worldwide Dosimetry Division		Fax:(714) 668-3149 	                   		    
ICN Biomedicals, Inc.				E-Mail: sandyfl@earthlink.net 				                           
ICN Plaza, 3300 Hyland Avenue  		E-Mail: sperle@icnpharm.com          	          
Costa Mesa, CA 92626                                      

Personal Website:  http://www.geocities.com/scperle
ICN Worldwide Dosimetry Website: http://www.dosimetry.com

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