Scientist Makes Case For Radioactive Material Control 

A radioactive scientist, Mr Ahmad Kabiru, has urged the radioactive regulatory agency in the country, the Nigeria Nuclear Regulatory Authority (NNRA) to be proactive in the discharge of its duty.
Kabiru gave the charge at a ‘Knowledge Sharing Session’, organised by Ntephe, Smith and Wills (NSW) in conjunction with the Institute of the Environment (IE) Limited in Port Harcourt, last Friday.
He explained that radioactive materials were used for oil and gas exploration, adding that they are not only naturally occurring, but are stored along with the oil and gas as a reservoir.
He described the materials as Technologically Enhanced Naturally Occurring Radioactive Materials (TENORMs), and pointed out that though they may be harmful, they are useful in oil and gas exploration activities as they help to bring oil to the surface for use.
Kabiru explained further that TENORMs were used in nearly every sector of the economy, at the airports to scan luggage, in hospitals for clinical investigations, diagnosis and treatment especially cancers and also in the agricultural sector and for power generation.
According to him, “we cannot say we’re going to stop oil and gas exploration because there are technologically enhanced radioactive materials coming up with it, what we do is to properly manage it so it does not affect the activities of the oil and gas exploration and those who handle it will not be exposed to its effects”.
He called on the NNRA, which regulates the application of radioisotopic technology in the country, to ensure that whoever is involved in the application of radioisotopic technology does not expose himself, his workers and the people around him and the community to dangerous levels of radiation.
He warned that oil bearing communities would be affected when the radioactive source get out of control of the licensee “because if you lose control you don’t know who is in the possession of it and what the person is using it for. It can affect the community in two ways and it comes as water because of the activities of oil and gas exploration”.
According to him, “there are accumulated effects do not manifest immediately after exposure and these can be expressed in form of cancer and genetic mutation. The next one is the Demestic effects which manifest immediately the person is exposed to radiation. People can die and they can also get burnt by radiation”.
Kabiru urged the government to support the regulatory agency with funding, adding that more awareness should be created about the effects of radiation and how to manage it.

By: Tonye Nria-Dappa