Yves HENON

International Irradiation Association

yhenon@iiaglobal.com

Non-energy applications of nuclear technologies

APPLICATIONS OF GAMMA IRRADIATION

Sochi – 15 May 2018

Irradiation

Definition: Exposure to ionizing radiation

Dose: Amount of energy absorbed per mass - Gray

Chemical effects

Biological effects

Death of living cells

Three ways to produce ionizing radiation

Gamma irradiation X-Ray machines Electron accelerators

The three have pros and cons Users decide which one is best for them

Sources of gamma radiation

In the form of sealed sources

Cobalt-60: From activation of cobalt-59 in nuclear power plants

Cesium-137: Fission product Encapsulated in the form of soluble and dispersible cesium chloride Use rapidly declining

~ 260 commercial gamma irradiators (> 0.3 MCi)

400 million curies of cobalt-60 installed Yearly demand ~ 55 million curies

China has the largest number of irradiators USA has the largest amount of cobalt-60 installed

Services centers (multipurpose) and in-house facilities

Yearly growth : 5 -15 % depending on region

Gamma irradiators

Three main domains of application

Medical Industry Food and agriculture

• Gamma knife

• Cobalt teletherapy

• Blood irradiation

Medical applications

Gamma knife

~ 200 sources of cobalt-60

Now technique of choice for tumors and other medical problems of the head

Single finely focused high dose of radiation to target with little or no damage to surrounding tissues

Medical applications

Cobalt teletherapy

Revolutionized cancer treatment after World War 2

Now largely replaced by linear accelerators

Blood irradiation

Prevention of Host Vs. Graft Disease

Mostly in self-shielded irradiators using cesium-137

Replacement by non-radioactive sources of radiation has started

Industrial applications

Main use of irradiation: enhancement of polymers

Through cross-linking, polymerization and grafting

Application to wires and cables, piping, heat shrinkables, foams, etc.

Mostly done with accelerated electrons

Gamma irradiation predominant for

Sterilization of disposable medical devices

Treatment of packaging, pharmaceutical and cosmetic ingredients

Treatment of food

Sterilization of disposable medical devices

Global sterilization market: ~ 5 billion US dollars

Gamma sterilization accounts for ~ 40 %

Annual growth rate ~8%

Governed by ISO 11137 series of standards

Often the preferred sterilization method if material is suitable for gamma irradiation

Other industrial applications of gamma irradiation

Sterilization of packaging

To prevent contamination of product contained

Pharmaceutical and cosmetic ingredients

Microbiological control

Applications to food and agriculture

Food irradiation

Sterile Insect Technique

Mutation breeding Obtention of better varieties by irradiation

Sanitation of beekeeping equipment

Irradiation to kill foolbrood

Food irradiation

Safe technique to maintain or improve quality of food

No residues, through package, aspect unchanged, little or no effect on nutrients

Mention of irradiation required. Radura logo optional.

Adoption slow and uneven China: 1 million tons of irradiated food marketed in 2017 European Union: less than 5,000 tons Use as a phytosanitary treatment of fresh produce rapidly growing in America and Australasia

Key issue is acceptance of retailers / traders. Consumers do buy irradiated food.

Irradiated food across the world

Sterile Insect Technique

Environmentally friendly method of biological control

Mass rearing

of insects

Separation and irradiation of males

Release of sterile males

Sterile males mate with fertile wild females

Eggs infertile - bear no offspring

Number of unwanted insects declines

Sterile Insect Technique

The technique was successful used around the world:

Eradication of screw worm in Central and South America and Libya

Eradication of tsetse fly in Zanzibar

Suppression of Mediterranean fruit fly in Croatia, Spain, Israel, Jordan, etc.

Suppression of false codling moth in citrus orchards in South Africa

Eradication of onion fly in onion fields in the Netherlands

Other applications of irradiation

Prevent cross-contamination

Rawhide pet toys

Disinfestation and consolidation

Preservation of cultural heritage

Protection against anthrax

Mail US government

Change color for higher commercial value

Semi-precious gemstones

Gamma irradiation is simple and reliable 60 years of experience and excellent safety record Growth expected from more use of existing applications Terrorist threat has brought security

issues to the forefront. Now more challenging: To transport sources across borders To get a license for new gamma irradiators

Growing interest and pressure for irradiation solutions that do

not require radioactive sources e.g. high energy X rays, low energy electrons and X rays from lamps.

Conclusion

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спасибо за внимание