Cuban scientists extract disused sources in food irradiation plant

 HAVANA, Cuba, Jan 31 (ACN) A successful operation was concluded by experts from the Center for Radiation Protection and Hygiene (CPHR by its Spanish acronym) in the extraction of 52 disused sources from the Food Irradiation Plant (PIA by its Spanish acronym), located in La Lisa municipality, Havana.

The procedure removed them from the reserve tank and transferred them to the container, under the supervision of the Regulatory Authority and without any accident occurring during the process, informed the Nuclear Communicators Network (RECNUC).

CPHR technologists even put it into practice for the first time, which demonstrates the experience and skills acquired in its management.

RECNUC added that such materials had been transferred to the CPHR's Radioactive Waste Management facility, where they are safely stored.

It indicated that this operation marks a further step in the country's strategy to re-establish food irradiation capabilities to promote import substitution and improve food security.

The main industrial applications of its phases are the sterilization and decontamination of biomedical, cosmetic and pharmaceutical products, as well as packaging materials in the food industry.

Such applications are harmless, without causing significant variation in the characteristics of the products or harm to people at the Food Irradiation Plant, which dates back to 1987 and is the only one in the country.

A technical collaboration project of the International Atomic Energy Agency, in coordination with the Agency for Nuclear Energy and Advanced Technologies (AENTA), made it possible to recharge the plant.