The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) recently unveiled its annual data on illegal trafficking of nuclear and other radioactive material. Alarmingly, the data reveals that radioactive materials or contaminated devices are infiltrating the thriving recycling chain of scraps, leading to serious health hazards.
Understanding the IAEA Data
The IAEA’s Nuclear Security Plan is tasked with reporting incidents involving illicit trafficking of nuclear and other radioactive materials. According to the latest dataset, it is becoming more common for radioactive sources to be erroneously disposed of in industries dealing with scrap metal or waste recycling. This unsettling trend points to flaws in measures designed to control, secure, and properly dispose of radioactive materials.
Contaminated metal, if used in the production of household goods, could pose a potential health risk to unwary consumers. The IAEA reported a staggering 146 incidents in 2022, signifying an almost 38% increase compared to the figures from 2021.
Safeguarding Against Radioactive Materials in the Recycling Chain
In order to prevent radioactive materials from entering the recycling chain, several measures need to be put into action.
– Strengthening Regulatory Frameworks: Governments must reinforce their regulatory frameworks and enforcement mechanisms to assure proper handling, storage, and disposal of radioactive materials. This could encompass stricter licensing requirements for facilities handling radioactive materials and penalties for non-compliance.
– Enhancing Monitoring and Control Mechanisms: Governments should also invest in better monitoring and control mechanisms to prevent illegal trafficking of nuclear and radioactive materials. These measures can involve deploying radiation detection equipment at borders and other entry points and developing comprehensive tracking and reporting systems.
– Promoting Use of Alternative Materials: Both governments and other stakeholders should advocate the use of alternative materials that don’t carry the risk of radioactive contamination. Further, efforts should be made to advance technologies for extracting valuable materials from radioactive waste in a safe and sustainable manner.
Understanding Radioactivity
Radioactivity is characterized by the spontaneous release of particles or waves from the unstable atomic nuclei of certain elements. Radioactive emissions can be classified into three categories: Alpha, Beta, and Gamma.
Alpha particles are helium atoms that carry a positive charge, while beta particles are negatively charged electrons. On the other hand, gamma rays are neutral electromagnetic radiations.
Radioactive elements are naturally found in the earth’s crust, with uranium, thorium, and actinium being among the three NORM (Naturally Occurring Radioactive Materials) series that contaminate water resources.
About the International Atomic Energy Agency
The IAEA, part of the United Nations family, is globally recognized as the organization advocating “Atoms for Peace and Development”. This international body was founded in 1957 as a response to the profound fear and anticipation stirred by the discoveries and varied uses of nuclear technology.
Based in Vienna, Austria, the IAEA collaborates with its member states and various global partners to advocate for the safe, secure, and peaceful use of nuclear technologies. In 2005, it was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for its commitment to promoting a safe and peaceful world. The IAEA is an independent international institution that submits annual reports to the United Nation General Assembly. Additionally, it also reports to the UN Security Council concerning any instances of members’ non-compliance with safeguard and security obligations.
Examining UPSC Civil Services Examination questions
In the previous year’s question (2018) for the UPSC Civil Services Examination, the following question related to the IAEA was asked: “In the Indian context, what is the implication of ratifying the ‘Additional Protocol’ with the ‘International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)’?” The given answer was: “(a) The civilian nuclear reactors come under IAEA safeguards.”