Radioactive cargo in gutted MSIL godown?

By Harichandan A.A.

BANGALORE, JUNE 13. Radioactive material imported by a Peenya- based company was part of the cargo in the MSIL air cargo godown that was gutted recently, according to sources.

Tritium activated zinc sulphide was being imported by the company. The cargo, with airway bill number 098-7249-5150 and IGM number 1289-2000, was stored in the godown during the fire at the MSIL air cargo complex on June 4. However, the company has denied any knowledge of such cargo imported by it.

According to sources, in a letter to the General Manager of MSIL on June 3, the company stated that the cargo of tritium activated zinc sulphide must not be disposed of as ordinary waste, but should be treated as nuclear radioactive waste. The company is also said to have forwarded a copy of the letter to the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre in Mumbai.

Sources say that the temperature inside the godown was high enough to melt the lead containers of the radioactive material, and expose it. However, it is not known if the concentration of tritium in the cargo was high enough to be dangerous.

The scientific officers from the Forensic Sciences Laboratories, who are investigating the fire, collected evidence from the air cargo godown over two days. It is not known if they were exposed to any radioactivity.

When contacted, the Director of the laboratories, Dr. B.M.Mohan, said that the FSL was not equipped to handle radioactive material, and the disposal of the cargo must be handled by competent professionals.

An expert on aspects of safety relating to atomic energy told The Hindu that the actual quantity of tritium was usually too low in the case of tritium activated zinc sulphide for it to be harmful. The radioactive concentration of tritium that may be present was also low in this case, he said.

Further, there is the possibility of the tritium being locked-in by the melting lead pots which would solidify into single units.

Tritium gets easily mixed in the atmosphere. If ingested, it gets eliminated in the normal process in two to six days in the Indian conditions where people drink a lot of water.

Tritium activated zinc sulphide, a phosphorescent material, is used in the manufacture of dials. Tritium is being phased out from the process in favour of promethium, which is less harmful.

Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Section  : Southern States
Previous : At 79, 'Ganesh' is struggling for life
Next     : RS poll: LDF talks fail to break deadlock