Cesium-137 “Big Tu” was ordered to take care of public safety carefully, check for contamination in detail: PPTVHD36

A government spokesman said the prime minister had ordered the cesium-137 case for all units to work together. take care of public safety and thoroughly inspect all surrounding radii for contamination in the environment

Mr. Anucha Burapachaisri Deputy Secretary General to the Prime Minister for Political Affairs Acting as spokesperson for the Prime Minister’s Office revealed that General Prayut Chan-o-cha, Prime Minister and Minister of Defense tracked the events of Contamination with radioactive material cesium-137 (Cesium , Cs-137) in a Prachinburi Province smelter Order and consistently implement work guidelines protect against the impact of setting out long-term solutions to protect people

Including the National Police Commissioner’s order to send a special task force to the area to investigate the facts, how did cesium-137 disappear from the factory? in order to find the wrong person to be punished according to the law

The Prime Minister’s Office spokesperson also reveals that government agencies have taken action on the cesium-137 case as follows:

The Ministry of Higher Education Science Research and Innovation (NIA) is establishing a coordination center to monitor and follow up Situation on radioactive material cesium-137 and the Atoms for Peace Bureau (NESDB) has established a special operations center to monitor and respond to cases of radioactive cesium-137. in the area of ​​the incident in Prachin Buri Province and carried out inspections to measure radiation levels in the area of ​​the metal smelting plant where the incident occurred It was found to be contaminated with radioactive cesium-137. In a steel furnace at low level (0.07- 0.10 microSv/hour) and in the dust filter system and the dust filter system They will be packed in large bags and stored together with the 24 bags previously found to be have been contaminated. Although no contamination was found in the iron water transfer device parts. and from measuring the level of radiation on the surface of the soil in the factory area and the amount of radiation in the environment The level of the radiation dose was found to be equal to the natural radiation level (0.03-0.05 microSv/h) in the factory area where the incident occurred accident and the area around the factory, with a radius of about 3 kilometers.

Water and soil samples were collected in the surrounding factory area for analysis. and it was not found to be contaminated. Although the radiation level measurements did not find diffused air in the building. and no external contamination The radioactive cesium is now contained in a large bag. which is controlled and restricted the public health department has examined more than 70 workers in the factory at risk Urine and blood were collected to detect radioactive substances in accordance with standard methods. And from the 1-month retrospective examination of the health history of the people in Prachin Buri Province from the hospital report, no people were found to have random illness symptoms from radioactive exposure.

Pollution Control Department Reported the results of measuring radiation levels in the air on March 21, 2023 in 6 areas around the factory and the community areas. The radiation level was found to be in the range of natural background radiation. No radioactive cesium-137 contamination was detected. in nearby community areas

Prachin Buri Province has declared the factory area as a control area. with confirmation that cesium-137 Metal dust contaminants are controlled and disposed of in specific areas. And carrying out a contamination test in the body of all the workers, including 70 people, to detect contaminants in the workers’ body But there is no contamination on the worker’s body.

The Office of Atoms for Peace has confirmed that The Office of Atoms for Peace is in the area. and are continuously inspected with the confidence that normal substances have not been found and radiation level sensors are passed on to people in the area and if there is radiation, the sensor will display the visible radiation value by notifying the authorities immediately

Ministry of Public Health Make sure you have a plan to deal with it if there is contamination in the body But so far, the results of health checks for the forge’s staff and the nearby villagers. No contamination was found, and most recently, a 24-hour helpline was opened for people to call for information if they suspect they are at risk. Regarding the health inspection of the villagers around the factory already in the inspection plan with the aim that the situation must be monitored for at least 5 years.

In this regard, information from Professor Dr. Winai Wananukul, Head of the Poisons Center and Head of the Department of Internal Medicine. Ramathibodi Hospital Faculty of Medicine Mahidol University revealed that the severity of cesium-137 which is a radioactive substance that affects the body It depends on factors such as the amount of radiation received. period received received part of the body

For effects on the body, divided into 2 stages: 1. Short-term effects when in contact with the skin. Causes red rash, itching, swelling, blisters or sores. There may be loss of hair or hair or the effect that occurs suddenly when taking a very high dose will have prominent symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, fatigue, after which the symptoms will disappear temporarily for approx. 1-3 weeks, after which it will affect 3. The main parts of the body are the blood system, the gastrointestinal system and the nervous system. Depending on the amount of substance received 2. The long-term effect is important to increase the risk of cancer.

Caesium-137 can be received in two ways: 1. Exposure to the danger of external radiation can be prevented by using the TDS Rule (Time, Distance, Protection) with the minimum time. or 2. Exposure to internal radiation hazards resulting from inhalation or ingestion of contaminated material.

For the important risk groups of both channels there are operators in the area or at the time of the event. However, from the doses reported in the surrounding air and soil samples, it was found to be close to background radiation, which is not life-threatening.

“It has been confirmed so far that there are no reports of public health problems from cesium-137, the worker’s blood test is normal. And it will check again on April 5, 2023, where the Prime Minister has ordered to take care of public safety and to take care of environmental contamination in every radius around, including soil, water, air The government has set active strategy since then continuous total vigilance so that the public will not be harmed by radioactive substances Ask people not to panic. Follow the instructions consistently. And check news from reliable sources,” said Mr Anucha.