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Re: EmergencyNet News
Susan, this was published by press
http://www.vanguardngr.com/articles/2002/cover/f428022003.html
VANGUARD
Nuclear experts arrive Nigeria soon over radioactive material
By Ikechukwu Eze, with Agency reports
Friday, February 28, 2003
Look at the Q & A interview between the Director-General of the Nigerian
National Nuclear Regulatory Agency with the BBC. -
Nigeria is a developing country and as we can understand have requested help
to IAEA.
Three or four days ago I made a comment on the capability of about 40% of
the IAEA Member States, with weak infrastructure to control sources........
Jose Julio Rozental
joseroze@netvision.net.il
Israel
A delegation from the global nuclear agency is on its way to Nigeria to help
track down radioactive material lost by an oil company. The two devices
contained caesium-137 which could potentially be used in radioactive "dirty
bomb," a some in the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has said.
The arrival of the team followed an appeal by the Federal Government to the
IAEA to help it recover the two missing radio active material in the Niger
Delta region.
The hand-held devices used to X-ray oil pipelines to check for cracks are
also a risk to people's health, the source said. Both devices have been
missing since December and seem to have been stolen or fallen off a
transport vehicle in the Southern Niger Delta region, an official at the
Nigerian Nuclear Regulatory Authority (NNRA) said. The Nigerian authorities
reported the loss to the IAEA and are now awaiting advice.
Residents of the oil-producing region have been warned not to touch the
material, which may be in "thick steel cylindrical containers with
yellowish-black" markings.
Health workers have also been urged to keep a look-out for anyone with
prolonged nausea or skin burns.
The material went missing on December 3, 2002 but a public warning was only
made last week. "We have ... informed the International Atomic Energy Agency
in case somebody stole it and wants to take it outside Nigeria," Shams
Elegba, Head of the NNRA said. The material was lost while in transit
between Warri and Port Harcourt.
The Director-General of the National Nuclear Regulatory Agency, Prof.
Shamsideen Babatunde disclosed the Federal Government's request in an
interview with the BBC.
"What are the details of the missing radioactive materials?
The material is used in the oil industry for wet-logging.
Can you quantify the missing materials?
It is not something that you can qualify in kilogramme or something like
that. It has its own unit.
How did it get missing?
Through transportation from one location to another in the Niger Delta
region. It happened sometime in December but the report came to us in
January after the company had made its own effort to recover it but could
not.
What progress is being made towards recovering it?
We have a lead and we are pursuing the lead. But I think the interesting
thing to you and your audience ...
What about efforts being made internationally to recover the materials?
This has been reported formally to the International Atomic Energy Agency so
that they will assist us in making sure that if it is stolen from Nigeria it
should not be moved to any other country for monetary purposes.
What is the health implication of the missing material?
Anybody who comes in contact with it is likely to suffer some radiological
damage. That is why we are alerting the public, and doctors and nurses in
case they receive cases of burns and so on and so forth.
Does that mean it could lead to death?
Yes, if ingested. But the issue now is not just ingestion because even
coming close to it is dangerous. That is what we are worried about now."
----- Original Message -----
From: Susan McElrath
To: radsafe@list.vanderbilt.edu
Sent: Saturday, March 01, 2003 12:13 AM
Subject: EmergencyNet News
16:00CST/23:00 - Lagos, Nigeria time - 28 Feb 2003
Radioactive Sources Missing; IAEA Declares Emergency
>From the ERRI/EmergencyNet News Watchdesk
By C. L. Staten
LAGO, NIGERIA (EmergencyNet News) -- A "radiological emergency" has
reportedly been declared by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA),
as it searches for missing materials that are toxic and radioactive.
Reportedly, the missing substances are americium and beryllium. The exact
amount or each, that is missing, is presently unclear. They were being used
for inspecting oil pipelines for cracks or leaks, when they were discovered
as being missing. The Nigerian Nuclear Regulatory Agency had previously
reported the possible theft (see previous 27 Feb 2003 Emergencynet News
report), but information coming from the region now indicates that the
missing materials may have been as the result of a "strategic theft."
EmergencyNet News is monitoring events in Nigeria closely and will bring you
additional details as circumstances warrant...
Emergency Response & Research Institute
EmergencyNet News Service
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