Recovered uranium not dangerous, says PNRI chief

MANILA, Philippines – The depleted uranium recently recovered by authorities in a nationwide operation would not be enough to produce a bomb, a high-ranking official of the Philippine Nuclear Research Institute (PNRI)-Department of Science and Technology said on Wednesday, December 11.

According to geologist PNRI Director Dr. Carlo Arcilla, the presence of the radioactive metal shouldn’t cause panic to the public.

“Kaya depleted ‘yan kase napiga na yung mga fissionable materials (The reason why it’s considered depleted is because the fissionable materials have been squeezed out),” he said in a Radyo 630 interview.

Arcilla explained that the uranium recovered can’t be made into a bomb, but can be processed into armor-piercing bullets. He highlighted that authorities found no bomb-making paraphernalia at the hideouts.

However, Arcilla clarified that residual powder from uranium can still be dangerous to the public, especially when the powder is mixed with bombs to create radiological dispersal devices (RDD) or inhaled by vulnerable individuals.

The element in small quantities is capable of causing alpha emission, a type of radioactive decay that damages living tissue, according to the official website of the United States Environmental Protection Agency.

On Monday, November 9, the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) announced that it had seized around 100 kilograms of radioactive materials that had traces of Uranium-238 and Uranium-235 in alleged syndicate hideouts in Pasay, Metro Manila; Mandaue City in Cebu; and Cagayan de Oro, northern Mindanao.

The existence of the uranium isotopes had raised concern among residents and local officials. Incumbent Mandaue City Mayor Glenn Bercede on Tuesday, December 10, expressed his intention to work with the NBI to get a full report on what was happening in his city.

Origins still unknown

Arcilla disclosed in the interview that the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), the world’s nuclear watchdog, received a tip from a whistleblower who reported the alleged illegal uranium trade happening in the country.

After receiving the report, the PNRI immediately informed authorities, especially the NBI.

The NBI’s probe led them to the group of a certain Roy Cabesas Vistal who offered the radioactive materials for sale and allegedly misrepresented the items as precious metals. Vistal was eventually arrested on October 28 in Cagayan de Oro City in southern Philippines.

“Further investigation disclosed that Vistal’s group allegedly sourced the depleted uranium from Cebu,” the NBI said in a statement.

The PNRI director noted that the country was not on the list of world producers of uranium. 

“Buy-and-sell lang talaga sila. Ang tanong saan nga nanggaling? (They’re really just buy-and-sell. The question is where did it come from?),” Arcilla said. 

As of this writing, authorities were still investigating the origins of the uranium.

Uranium perils

According to authorities, the suspects have been brought in for inquest proceedings at the Department of Justice (DOJ) for violating the Atomic Energy Regulatory and Liability Act of 1968. 

Under the law, violators of the law, specifically those who illegally sell nuclear materials without the proper licensing, face imprisonment of not more than five years or a fine of not more than P10,000 or both.

Arcilla criticized the outdatedness of the Atomic Energy Regulatory and Liability Act and the “minimal” fines of law violators.

He also said it was time to amend the law and increase the penalties for these incidents, and fast-track the establishment of the Independent Nuclear Regulatory Authority (INRA) to regulate and monitor activities involving the utilization of nuclear materials in hospitals, power plants, and other facilities. – Rappler.com