Fasih Khan
FULL MEMBER
- Joined
- Apr 1, 2010
- Messages
- 1,556
- Reaction score
- 0
Indian university investigates radioactive waste death
The radioactive material was found in a scrap market
Authorities at Delhi University in India say they are investigating how radioactive waste which this week killed a man was sold as scrap.
On Wednesday, police said cobalt-60 had leaked from an irradiation machine sold by the university earlier this month.
A scrap metal worker who was exposed to the radiation died on Monday of multiple organ failure. Several of his colleagues are still in hospital.
They were exposed to radiation after dismantling the machine, police say.
Search teams have found cobalt-60 in several shops in the scrap market in the city's Mayapuri industrial area.
'Apologetic'
"Officials from the Atomic Energy Department are investigating the matter. The university is also doing its own investigation with help from the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre," Delhi University Vice-Chancellor Deepak Pental told a press conference.
"The university is very apologetic about what has happened. The university takes moral responsibility for what has happened."
Mr Pental said a thorough investigation should be held so that the "mistake can by rectified".
"We must learn from this incident so that such problems don't recur in future."
The worker who died has been named as Rajendra, who was 35.
On Wednesday, police said the university bought the gamma irradiation machine in 1970 for use in experiments by chemistry students.
The machine, which had not been used since the mid-1980s, was sold at an auction in February.
Police said while dismantling it, the workers peeled off its protective lead cover and in the process exposed themselves to the radioactive metal inside it.
At least half a dozen people were admitted to hospital. Several are critically ill.
The discovery caused panic in nearby residential areas. It was initially thought that the radioactive material had come from hospital waste.
India has a large workforce dedicated to dismantling scrap and experts say it is a major dumping ground for hazardous waste.
BBC News - Indian university investigates radioactive waste death
India nuclear plant leak under investigation
Indian officials are investigating the leak of a radioactive substance into drinking water at an atomic power plant in the south of the country.
Fifty-five workers at the Kaiga plant needed medical treatment for excessive exposure to radiation after tritium contaminated a water cooler.
Officials said the leak might have been deliberate.
"Mischief is not ruled out. Investigations are on," plant director J P Gupta told Reuters news agency.
The 55 workers had returned to their duties at the plant, Mr Gupta added.
"This incident has in no way affected the public, safety, health and environment."
The highly protected Kaiga plant is on the west coast of India, 450km (280 miles) from Bangalore.
Tritium, also known as Hydrogen-3, is used in research, fusion reactors and neutron generators.
BBC News - India nuclear plant leak under investigation
How Alarming are India's Nuclear Security Issues. World has to do something about it. If such Incedents would have happened in Pakistan ''World Powers'' would be jumping upside down to get it propogated.
The radioactive material was found in a scrap market
Authorities at Delhi University in India say they are investigating how radioactive waste which this week killed a man was sold as scrap.
On Wednesday, police said cobalt-60 had leaked from an irradiation machine sold by the university earlier this month.
A scrap metal worker who was exposed to the radiation died on Monday of multiple organ failure. Several of his colleagues are still in hospital.
They were exposed to radiation after dismantling the machine, police say.
Search teams have found cobalt-60 in several shops in the scrap market in the city's Mayapuri industrial area.
'Apologetic'
"Officials from the Atomic Energy Department are investigating the matter. The university is also doing its own investigation with help from the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre," Delhi University Vice-Chancellor Deepak Pental told a press conference.
"The university is very apologetic about what has happened. The university takes moral responsibility for what has happened."
Mr Pental said a thorough investigation should be held so that the "mistake can by rectified".
"We must learn from this incident so that such problems don't recur in future."
The worker who died has been named as Rajendra, who was 35.
On Wednesday, police said the university bought the gamma irradiation machine in 1970 for use in experiments by chemistry students.
The machine, which had not been used since the mid-1980s, was sold at an auction in February.
Police said while dismantling it, the workers peeled off its protective lead cover and in the process exposed themselves to the radioactive metal inside it.
At least half a dozen people were admitted to hospital. Several are critically ill.
The discovery caused panic in nearby residential areas. It was initially thought that the radioactive material had come from hospital waste.
India has a large workforce dedicated to dismantling scrap and experts say it is a major dumping ground for hazardous waste.
BBC News - Indian university investigates radioactive waste death
India nuclear plant leak under investigation
Indian officials are investigating the leak of a radioactive substance into drinking water at an atomic power plant in the south of the country.
Fifty-five workers at the Kaiga plant needed medical treatment for excessive exposure to radiation after tritium contaminated a water cooler.
Officials said the leak might have been deliberate.
"Mischief is not ruled out. Investigations are on," plant director J P Gupta told Reuters news agency.
The 55 workers had returned to their duties at the plant, Mr Gupta added.
"This incident has in no way affected the public, safety, health and environment."
The highly protected Kaiga plant is on the west coast of India, 450km (280 miles) from Bangalore.
Tritium, also known as Hydrogen-3, is used in research, fusion reactors and neutron generators.
BBC News - India nuclear plant leak under investigation
How Alarming are India's Nuclear Security Issues. World has to do something about it. If such Incedents would have happened in Pakistan ''World Powers'' would be jumping upside down to get it propogated.
Last edited:
