PNRI ready to screen people exposed to radiation

By CANDICE MONTENEGRO, GMA News

Published March 17, 2011 2:41pm

While radiation levels in the Philippines are within normal levels, the Philippine Nuclear Research Institute (PNRI) assured the public that it is capable of screening people who may be exposed to high levels of radiation. At a press briefing on Thursday, PNRI Director Alumandra dela Rosa said it has adequate equipment to screen people contaminated with radiation. The equipment are portable and can be carried by hand in emergency situations, she said.

Acute health effects of radiation exposure:

Health effects are largely determined by the degree and duration of exposure.

If the dose of radiation exceeds a certain threshold level, then it can produce acute effects, such as skin redness, hair loss, radiation burns, and acute radiation syndrome.

In a nuclear power plant incident, the general population is not likely to be exposed to doses high enough to cause such effects.

Rescuers, first responders and nuclear power plant workers are more likely to be exposed to doses of radiation high enough to cause acute effects. Manifestations of acute radiation syndrome or radiation poisoning:

Nausea

Vomiting

Fever

Diarrhea

Hairfall

Blood in stool or vomit Long-term effects that can be expected from radiation exposure:

Exposure to radiation can increase the risk of cancer.

Radioactive iodine can be released during nuclear emergencies. If breathed in or swallowed, it will concentrate in the thyroid gland and increase the risk of thyroid cancer.

Exposure to radiation when pregnant may lead to genetic malformations in fetuses. Source: World Health Organization, Department of Health

Dela Rosa also said they also have equipment to measure levels of radiation in food products. However, there have been no recommendations to screen food items imported from Japan, she said. The Japanese food items that are currently in the market were imported into the country before the explosions at Fukushima, she added. No high radiation activity During the briefing, Department of Science and Technology (DOST) Director Raymond Liboro said no high radiation activity is expected to reach the Philippines in the next 24 hours. Liboro also said the PNRI is continuously monitoring the radiation levels in the country. As radiation levels in the country remain normal, the public is reminded to stay calm and not be alarmed, Liboro said. A radiation scare has spread across different countries after a nuclear plant in Fukushima, Japan started to fail after a magnitude-9 earthquake and tsunami hit the country on March 11. Filipino workers from Japan have started returning to the Philippines in fear of another earthquake and the effects of the nuclear plant explosion. DOST Secretary Mario Montejo said there is no need to repatriate all Filipinos who are in Japan as of now. Montejo said the extent of the radioactivity is limited to 20 to 30 kilometers near the Fukushima power plants. He said all decisions for repatriation because of the nuclear plant explosion will have to be 'sciece-based.' On Monday, at the height of the radiation scare, the Department of Health (DOH) also said that they are ready to give doses of potassium iodide if high levels of radiation reach the Philippines. â€“ VVP, GMA News

Tags: japan, tsunami, earthquake, imreadylindol, radiation