Radioactive leak may affect people in one-km radius, say experts

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, October 10

The Delhi airport witnessed a false alarm about a radioactive leak after a consignment of nuclear drugs for thyroid cancer treatment- Molibdenum 99 - delivered at IGI. If it had been leaked, it would have affected people within one km of radius. 

The nuclear drug destroys cancer-affected cells and can make a patient seriously ill if it enters other cells of the body. It destroys white blood corpuscle (WBC). Prescribed quantity of Molibdenum 99 is administered to a victim of thyroid cancer patients in a form of Isotope or Iodine 131 Jenon, experts said.

According to the experts, the hospital administration has clear instructions for restricted use of radiation that is only on affected cells. 

Dr Sameer Rastogi of the AIIMS Oncology Department said, "During both investigation and treatment, the radioactive nuclear drug is used though its quantity during treatment is comparatively more than in investigation but due to direct impact of radioactive rays on the body, it can be hazardous to health."

Regular CBC or complete blood count in cancer patient is said to be very important within two to three months of treatment due to reduction of WBC. The reduction of WBC may develop TB or cancer in the patients, he said.

He also explained that when the nuclear drug is administered in patient's body, he has cold, headache, vomiting and rapid fall of white blood cells (corpuscle). If a person comes direct hit of radiation, his capacity of immunity reduces rapidly. It is also to be noted that the radiation affect depends upon the quantity of gas. 

In various hospitals for investigation and treatment, the carton of radioactive material comes every week from European countries. As per the requirement of hospital, it is disposed of from the airport. This happens every Sunday. As per the official information received from B L Kapoor hospital, for whom the radioactive consignment comes regularly, no mistake is committed by the hospital management while disposing of the cartons.