NPT Review Conference: P5 statement on mitigating xenon emissions
In advance of the 2015 Non-Proliferation Treaty Review Conference from 27 April to 22 May 2015 at UN Headquarters in New York, the "P5 States" (China, France, Russia, the United Kingdom and the United States) have issued a statement on the need to minimize radioxenon emissions from medical isotope production facilities into the environment.
Certain isotopes of the noble gas xenon – called radioxenon in its radioactive forms are detected by the International Monitoring System (IMS). Through these detections, it can be determined whether a suspicious signal picked up through seismic, infrasound or hydroacoustic means is nuclear in nature. When complete, the IMS will include 40 stations capable of detecting radioxenon. Today, 22 are certified and another eight already installed. Around 18,000 samples of xenon are registered per year.
Radioxenon is a by-product whose releases can be controlled but not curbed entirely during the production of medical isotopes. While they do not pose any health risk, the readings from these emissions look similar to those of a nuclear explosion, and can reduce the IMS's overall detection capabilities. At the 2013 CTBT: Science and Technology Conference in Vienna, a major European producer of radioisotopes agreed to cooperate with the CTBTO in mitigating these effects.
Certain isotopes of the noble gas xenon – called radioxenon in its radioactive forms are detected by the International Monitoring System (IMS). Through these detections, it can be determined whether a suspicious signal picked up through seismic, infrasound or hydroacoustic means is nuclear in nature. When complete, the IMS will include 40 stations capable of detecting radioxenon. Today, 22 are certified and another eight already installed. Around 18,000 samples of xenon are registered per year.
Radioxenon is a by-product whose releases can be controlled but not curbed entirely during the production of medical isotopes. While they do not pose any health risk, the readings from these emissions look similar to those of a nuclear explosion, and can reduce the IMS's overall detection capabilities. At the 2013 CTBT: Science and Technology Conference in Vienna, a major European producer of radioisotopes agreed to cooperate with the CTBTO in mitigating these effects.
One of 40 noble-gas capable radionuclide stations: RN27, Papeete, Tahiti (France)
The CTBTO conducts a series of expert workshops on the issue. The next such Workshop on the Signatures of Medical and Industrial Isotope Production will be held in Belgium, from 12 to 14 May 2015. The workshop will be opened by Marie-Christine Marghem, Belgium's Minister for Energy, Environment and Sustainable Development. Marghem met with CTBTO Executive Secretary Lassina Zerbo on 27 February to discuss this event and wider cooperation between Belgium and the CTBTO.
Marie-Christine Marghem, Minister for Energy, Environment and Sustainable Development of Belgium and CTBTO Executive Secretary Lassina Zerbo
"P5 Statement for 2015 Non-Proliferation Treaty Review Conference on Minimizing the Impact of Medical Isotope Production on the release of xenon gas into the environment
The P5 recognise that while medical isotope production is a critically important activity and while the objective of ensuring the security of supply of medical radioisotopes is of utmost importance, they share a common interest in minimizing the interference of xenon radioisotope releases with global radioactive monitoring activity. The P5 believe that all States should engage with producers in their regions to assess the amount of emissions and to reduce where it is possible their negative impact on the environment through minimization of emissions from fission-based medical isotope production.
Further, the P5 advocate that the CTBTO Executive Secretary continue working actively with interested States, other relevant international organizations, and with radioisotope production facilities to minimize where it is possible the impact from the release of xenon radioisotopes.
Activities that the P5 support include the series of Workshops on the Signatures of Medical and Industrial Isotope Production (WOSMIP), and an IAEA Coordinated Research Project (CRP) “Sharing and Developing Protocols to Further Minimize Radioactive Gaseous Releases to the Environment in the Manufacture of Medical Radioisotopes, as Good Manufacture Practices”."
The P5 recognise that while medical isotope production is a critically important activity and while the objective of ensuring the security of supply of medical radioisotopes is of utmost importance, they share a common interest in minimizing the interference of xenon radioisotope releases with global radioactive monitoring activity. The P5 believe that all States should engage with producers in their regions to assess the amount of emissions and to reduce where it is possible their negative impact on the environment through minimization of emissions from fission-based medical isotope production.
Further, the P5 advocate that the CTBTO Executive Secretary continue working actively with interested States, other relevant international organizations, and with radioisotope production facilities to minimize where it is possible the impact from the release of xenon radioisotopes.
Activities that the P5 support include the series of Workshops on the Signatures of Medical and Industrial Isotope Production (WOSMIP), and an IAEA Coordinated Research Project (CRP) “Sharing and Developing Protocols to Further Minimize Radioactive Gaseous Releases to the Environment in the Manufacture of Medical Radioisotopes, as Good Manufacture Practices”."