Due to the hot topic

Iron bars, smoke detectors containing radioactive substances

“Casium-137” disappeared from power plant in Prachinburi.

and try to find each other for a while

But can't come to a conclusion...

Then suddenly there was a press conference about the discovery of radioactive cesium-137.

In the iron dust of a steel mill in Prachinburi

which concludes part of the press release is

Not sure if the radioactive cesium-137 detected came from a missing device from the power plant?

one of the experts in

that used to reflect the huge problem of the case...

, which is the location of the Rare Earth Research and Development Center, located at Klong Ha Subdistrict, Klong Luang District, Pathum Thani Province, and the pending case

at Ongkharak District, Nakhon Nayok Province

Let me remark on the above summary...that means there are two clear points.

From the aforementioned issues, there are 3 agencies involved in the use of radioactive substances that would like to be mentioned:

Emphasize that...

is a user of radioactive material equipment, has a duty to look at, treat and report to the DEA according to the period

The PSA issued a license according to the law.

This step is important because there are specific penalties for neglect.

and the DEA must inspect the aforementioned radiation material equipment, the report is also within the range specified in the license as well

as a supervisor

Nationwide nuclear and radiation activities

If there is any damage, both of these agencies are responsible.

For example, in the case of Cobalt 60 in Samut Prakan in 1991, the DEA and private companies had to pay for damages from the accident.

Returning to the case of the iron smelter, it is almost a different story from the smoke detector of the power plant, but there is only the word

is a link.

In which the iron smelting process is contaminated with radioactive substances, it does not have to be radioactive cesium-137 only...

“Other radioactive substances can also be contaminated.”

Radioactive contamination in the iron smelting system can come from 3 channels, which are used radioactive waste.

natural radioactive waste

Common products such as smoke detectors

etc...may be imported from abroad or within Thailand

Then go into melting at a high temperature of about 1,000-1,200 degrees Celsius.

Any other material with a lower melting point will become a vapor.

From the aforementioned smoke, it will be filtered by a trap chamber...when the amount increases, it becomes red dust.

which is called iron dust

Iron dust also contains other mineral elements such as zinc. The iron dust will be sent to the processing plant for further utilization.

But... if it is contaminated with radioactive substances, it will affect the whole lot that is melted, then the DEA will proceed to comply with the Nuclear Act.

as a radioactive instigator

That is, the unit responsible for handling radioactive materials must be sent to the National Institute of Nuclear Technology.

(Public Organization) or DST, which DST will bring to the radioactive waste management process.

which has a variety of methods

In radioactive waste management, the method is to reduce the amount by incineration, compression and then sealing, depending on the type of radioactive waste, intensity and half-life of each type of radioactive material.

Then put it in a safe place... only by waiting for the amount of time that will cause the radioactive waste to eventually deplete according to its half-life.

For example, cesium-137 half-life is 30 years...it's simply multiplied by 10, it's about 300 years. The contaminated material will become radioactive.

I repeat, at present there is no technology

to be able to handle radioactive substances out of it

It only takes time for it to deteriorate according to the half-life value.

Some radioactive substances have a short half-life, but some are very long, for example, Cobalt 60 has a half-life of 5.3 years, that is, every 5.3 years, the radioactive substance is reduced by half.

But some species are very long, such as uranium, thorium, this group is valuable.

Half-life is billions of years or more.

Therefore...the responsibility of all three agencies is the radioactive users (factory), the nuclear and radioactive activity supervisor (DPS) and the radioactive waste management agency (DST) must have a very high responsibility.

especially the regulators

must have a particularly high level of responsibility

An important question is...where is radioactive waste stored at present?

Information obtained from the same news source indicates that

Nowadays, the managed radioactive waste

They are kept waiting for the radioactivity to expire. They are located in all 3 office areas of the DTI Office, namely Bangkhen Office 2 buildings, Techno Thani Office 2 buildings, Ongkharak Headquarters 1 building.

One observation is

It has just been created a few years ago, based on the 2020 Annual Report document, page 88.

Clause 1.11 Short-term work plan for managing iron dust contaminated with radioactive cesium-137

Committee of the National Institute of Nuclear Technology

Approved in principle the construction of a radioactive waste storage facility and approved the construction budget in the amount of 3,945,023.97 baht.

The important point is that...the storage of both office spaces are the Technopolis office and the Ongkharak headquarters.

Operate without a license from the Narcotics Control Board, in principle, 3 licenses are required:

Permit to use the area to set up a radioactive waste management facility, construction permit for a radioactive waste service facility

and a license to provide radioactive waste management services

Referring to Section 80 of the Nuclear Energy for Peace Act B.E.

“Any operation of the State or that the State will allow any person to perform

If such action may have an impact on natural resources, environmental quality, health, sanitation, quality of life or any interest of the people or communities or the environment in any other significant way.

The state must speed up action....

There must be a study and assessment of impacts on the quality of the environment and the health of people or communities.

And arrange for a hearing of the opinions of stakeholders and relevant people and communities first.

in order to take into consideration the operation or permission as provided by law.”

That means...throughout the past until now, has government agencies violated the law or not?

Also, is it a violation of the people's constitutional rights?