Few
weeks ago, we got to read news about radioactive source container being lost on
its way to Kathmandu from Chitwan. This news was unique but it was a subject of
public concern for sure. Generally such issues are not viewed seriously in developing
countries like Nepal. They are just overshadowed by the other issues like politics,
and other common stuffs.
Nevertheless,
this time it got a top priority on almost all national dailies for almost a
week. Firstly they mentioned the loss of radioactive source container thus
asking people to inform the concerned authority, if that source container comes
into their notice. Secondly, two days after the first notice, to tell people
that the container was found by a tea shopkeeper and was already handed over to
a local police office in Kathmandu.
The
first notice was not pleasing at all. It created a lot of fear of potential health
hazards to the public. On newspapers, it was clearly mentioned that the source
was being sent to Belgium as a regular process to get a new one. But it was
sent via Courier service without a secure transportation arrangement. It
illustrated the insufficient logistic management for the transportation of the
source container. It seemed like the source handling was not given due priority
by the authorities concerned during its transportation.
The
material was used to treat cancer patients in Bharatpur Cancer Hospital, as a
radioactive source for Brachytherapy Unit. Such radioactive materials if not
sealed or expose an individual under unsafe condition can create different
health problems ranging from skin reddening, erythema, cataract to deadly cancer
and genetic aberration. Effects like skin reddening can be observed within an
hour or days after exposure which we call early effects of radiation. While the
effects like cancer might manifest in years or decades after exposure, which we
call the late effect of irradiation.
In
developed countries and in some other developing countries like India, they
have clear code of practice for the transportation of radioactive sources. It
has helped them for proper transportation management of the source containers.
Such code of practice is generally recommended by agencies like IAEA and other
national or regional organizations.Although Nepal became the member of IAEA in
2008, it lacks national rules and regulation regarding the handling and
transportation of radioactive sources, which might have posed the challenges in
source container transportation. The incident was typical of all possible
mishandling of sources in future.
It
is obvious that there was lacking in the transportation of the radioactive
source container this time–firstly such serious issue should have been handled
with greater care by the hospital administration. Secondly, it has already been
too late to inform the general public about the effects of ionizing radiation
at all situations because nowadays we are using ionizing radiation large and
broad for varieties of purposes. Thirdly, the media which can play crucial role
in creating awareness among people about the benefits and hazards of ionizing
radiation in human health are found silent or not give due priority to this. Fourthly,
Government of Nepal is not formulating a Radiation Protection Law although it
has been years after it became member of IAEA. Finally our intelligentsia are
not discussing and debating in such issues within the framework of national
need.
Now
the time has come to converge into the formulation and implementation of
National Radiation Protection Laws, building a national infrastructure,
creating awareness among people about the pros and cons of ionizing radiation,
discussing and debating on the safety issues etc. If these things can be done,
the safe use of radiation to benefit people can be assured.
The writer is a member of Bangladesh
Medical Physics Society, and a student of Medical Physics, Gono Bishwabidyalay,
Dhaka, Bangladesh.
