RADIOACTIVE CONTAMINATION

Dr Ho Tat Kin asked the Acting Minister for Health what is the ruling and method of disposal for all radioactive isotopes used for treatment in hospitals; whether there has been any case of radioactive contamination due to improper disposal of used radioactive isotopes; and what measures his Ministry has taken to ensure that such incidents will not occur.

Mr Yeo Cheow Tong: Sir, the disposal of radioactive isotopes in hospitals is governed by the Radiation Protection Act under my Ministry and the Water Pollution Control and Drainage Act under the Ministry of the Environment.

Liquid waste arising from the use of solutions of radioactive isotopes is kept in special storerooms to allow the radioactivity to reduce to a safe level before it is discharged into the sewers. Solid waste, which includes contaminated syringes and needles, is stored until it is safe to be disposed of by burying at the Ministry of the Environment's designated sites. The safety limits imposed on the disposal of these wastes by my Ministry and the Environment Ministry are in line with international practice and are, in fact, even more stringent than most countries in order to protect our limited land and water resources.

Sealed sources of radioactive isotopes such as Cobalt 60 and Caesium 137 used in the treatment of patients in radiotherapy are re-exported to the suppliers when they are exhausted. All sealed sources of radioactive isotopes are individually monitored by my Ministry's Radiation Protection Inspectorate from the time they are imported until the time they are re-exported. This system ensures that there is no improper disposal of such high level sources.

There has been no case of radioactive contamination in the hospitals due to improper disposal of radioactive isotopes. My Ministry conducts regular checks on users of radio-isotopes in the hospitals to ensure that they comply with the regulations and to prevent any radiative contamination due to improper disposal.