The Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation totally rejects the allegations published in the Herald Sun of Sunday 11 March 2001 that "cargoes of nuclear waste are being driven secretly across Melbourne after a government agency ordered radiation warning signs be removed from trucks".
The items apparently referred to in the article are used/expired generators arising from the use in hospitals and medical centres of technetium for the diagnosis of life-threatening illnesses.
Transport companies have responsibility for complying with all necessary legislation (ie codes and requirements), and driver training and workplace practice for the transport of radioactive materials. In the case of road transport in Victoria, these requirements are administered by the Victorian Department of Human Services. This includes the placement of
appropriate placarding, ie radiation warning signs or trefoils, on vehicles used in the transportation of radioactive materials.
No instruction has been issued by ANSTO, at any time, to any agency to cover and/or remove labelling from radioactive materials where such labelling is required by regulations.
The radioactive content of technetium generators decays away rapidly. Four weeks after being shipped from ANSTO, the generators are well below Australian and international regulatory limits for radioactivity that requires labelling. All spent generators used in Australia are returned to ANSTO by road; contrary to the newspaper article, none are sent by air.
ANSTO was not consulted in advance of publication of the Victorian Radiation Advisory Committee’s annual report and is surprised by the Committee’s statements. ANSTO will be contacting the Committee to clarify the matter.
Published: 12/03/2001