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| Sunday, 2 February 2003 |
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Features |  |
| News Business Features Editorial
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AEA plays vital role in socio-economic development of the country by Vimukthi Fernando
Do you know who makes sure that the glass of milk your infant drinks does not contribute to cancer in his later life? "Parents ?" Well, not really. Parents may try to keep it safe from germs such as bacteria and virus. But, unknown to you, a group of dedicated men and women, labouring in their little cubicles check samples of each and every shipment of milk food imported to Sri Lanka to make sure that they are free from radioactive contamination. "Our certification is necessary for release of milk food to the market" says Prof. M. Prinath Dias, Chairman, Atomic Energy Authority (AEA). About 3000 food samples, including that of milk food is checked in the Authority's labs every year. Checking milk food samples is just a fraction of the functions the Authority carries out. Their work is based on two main objectives. They are, to "promote non destructive utilisation of nuclear technology for national development, and ensure safety of the practitioners, public and the environment in the process" says professor Dias. Enthusiastic about the progress the AEA had had over the past 30 years and the services they can provide in the future he says; "Now, we have our own building, labs and equipment. We can provide better services and have scheduled many 'non-power' applications of nuclear technology to be carried out in the next five years." Popular service At present, the most known service provided by AEA is the licensing of radiation and radioisotope use. It is mandatory for all users of radiation and radioisotope users, including X-ray clinics to obtain AEA licence. Monitoring the proper use of these equipment and the 1,200 radiation workers throughout the country to determine the levels of radiation they receive in the course of their duty are two other services ensuring the safe use of radioactive material carried out. Not to be outdone, AEA labs offer many other services as well. While food items are checked at their low level counting laboratories, a piece of pottery or jewellery from an archaeological site is analysed at their X-Ray fluorescent laboratory. And if you want to determine how an ancient sword got its handle fixed and what metals went into its making, that could easily be found out at the non-destructive testing section, where defects and corrosion in metallic items could also be found out.
Maintenance and repair of expensive and sophisticated nuclear electronic equipment is also done here. Calibration of measuring equipment is carried out at the sophisticated Secondary Standards Dosimetric Laboratory. Atomic energy, or nuclear energy though seen as harmful and destructive due to its negative utilisation during World War II, has a much higher potential when "used in a positive and non-destructive context," says Prof. Dias. That's what the AEA is engaged in. They channel benefits of nuclear energy through various avenues, mainly in the medical, agricultural and industrial fields towards the socio-economic development of the country. In Sri Lanka, nuclear imaging, human tissue banks, cancer therapy and the like, improve the health sector while breeding new varieties of crops and advancement of agronomic practices through various research, assist the progress of the agricultural sector. Preventive maintenance facilities cover a major part of assuring product quality in the industrial sector. Last year (2002) AEA's revenue topped Rs. 8 million. And this year, they hope to increase it over 9 million. Projects AEA also carries out many projects throughout the country. Standing out from the list is a research project in collaboration with the Rubber Research Institute, in vulcanisation of natural rubber latex by radiation. This has succeeded in providing a variety more pure and bio-degradable. The process was patented in Sri Lanka and the AEA is looking into the possibility of commercialising the process. Monitoring air pollution to determine pollutants and their sources, a project in collaboration with the University of Colombo and the Central Environment Authority and detection of leakage and seepage paths through dams, in collaboration with the Mahaweli Authority, Department of Irrigation and the Ceylon Electricity Board are some of the other projects to which AEA provides technical support.
Training provided by AEA, has also become 'vital' for technicians and practitioners handling radioactive material. During a normal year, over 50 workers undergo training in radiation protection. About 30 scientists are sent for overseas training, and five to six research projects are sponsored each year, through the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). Established in 1957, IAEA is an independent intergovernmental, science and technology-based organisation, in the United Nations family, that serves as the global focal point for nuclear cooperation. While assisting its member states in planning for and using nuclear science and technology for various peaceful purposes, it also works towards the protection of human health and the environment against ionizing radiation through various agreements, treaties and conventions. Sri Lanka, a founder member of the IAEA, fashioned the Authority after this international model. ***** The world has nothing to fear from nuclear giants, and hopefully they will stick by the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), said the highest authority in the world regarding nuclear or atomic energy, Dr. Mohamed El Baradei, the Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), who was in Sri Lanka on a short visit recently. Answering a question as to 'Though America tries to stop other countries from using nuclear energy for military purposes, who would ensure that the world is safe from USA's nuclear weapons?' he said "Not only America, five countries have nuclear weapons and we hope they will stick by the NPT." Dr. El Baradei, was on a short visit to Sri Lanka recently and called on at the Atomic Energy Authority (AEA) for a brief tour. Sri Lanka is a founder member of the IAEA, since its establishment in 1957, however, this is the first time that its Director General visited the country. IAEA assists Sri Lanka to use nuclear or atomic energy to improve the health, agriculture and industrial sectors. IAEA assists training locally and overseas for over 50 people each year in different aspects of nuclear power. A large number of scientists are trained in different countries. The cost of IAEA assistance is about US $ 750,000 per year and comes by way of technology and training, he said. Commenting on the potential of nuclear energy in power generation in Sri Lanka, he said that the IAEA "can help with assessment planning of energy needs." However, "nuclear energy is a sophisticated industry which needs infrastructure and economic competence." Speaking of the developments in Iraq and North Korea, which had come to international attention, he said at the time there was good cooperation from Iraq. "If they provide access to all sites and stay proactive, it is good" he added. Whereas, the situation in North Korea was concerned he assured IAEA would "soon be able to contain the problem and restore stability, by bringing all parties to dialogue, to stick to the Non-Proliferation Treaty." Iraq and North Korea are two of the top most challenging situations, handled by Dr. El Baradei as the Director General of IAEA. Guaranteeing compliance of the NPT is a major part of this challenge. As to his experience in the nuclear field, especially within the IAEA, he said that "Helping the member states, in their socio-economic development using atomic technology by peaceful and safe means was gratifying." Commenting on the threat nuclear energy poses to the world, he said that nuclear or atomic energy is not only used to power nuclear weapons, but also for other non-military purposes as well. "It is only the military purposes that tend to threaten the world. But, the IAEA is hopeful of settling the disputes by peaceful means, he confided optimistically. |
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