Radioactive material in WPS corals, water baffles experts
THE Philippine Nuclear Research Institute (PNRI) on Monday said that a radioactive material was found to exist in corals and water in the West Philippine Sea.
PNRI Director Carlo Arcilla told a virtual news conference that traces of iodine-129, a radioactive material, was found in corals in the sea.
Arcilla, in a follow-up phone interview with the BusinessMirror, said the radiation “is not dangerous but traceable.”
“The issue is what is it [radioactive substance] doing there? Are there nuclear activities going on in the area, or in North Korea?” he asked.
An online search showed iodine-129 is a long-lived radioisotope of iodine which occurs naturally, but also is of special interest in the monitoring and effects of man-made nuclear fission decay products, where it serves as both tracer and potential radiological contaminant.
The website of the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) said most iodine-129 in the environment came from nuclear weapons testing.
THE Philippine Nuclear Research Institute (PNRI) on Monday said that a radioactive material was found to exist in corals and water in the West Philippine Sea.
PNRI Director Carlo Arcilla told a virtual news conference that traces of iodine-129, a radioactive material, was found in corals in the sea.
Arcilla, in a follow-up phone interview with the BusinessMirror, said the radiation “is not dangerous but traceable.”
“The issue is what is it [radioactive substance] doing there? Are there nuclear activities going on in the area, or in North Korea?” he asked.
An online search showed iodine-129 is a long-lived radioisotope of iodine which occurs naturally, but also is of special interest in the monitoring and effects of man-made nuclear fission decay products, where it serves as both tracer and potential radiological contaminant.
The website of the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) said most iodine-129 in the environment came from nuclear weapons testing.
