Cs-137 Pollution In Cikande, Task Force Mapping Areas Exposed To Radiation

The Ministry of Environment (KLH) ensures that supervision in the Cikande Modern Industrial Estate with the mapping process continues to provide an overview of the condition of Cesium-137 radioactive substances.

Deputy for Control of Pollution and Environmental Damage KLH/Environmental Control Agency (BPLH) Ratio Ridho Sani said progress continues in the process of decontamination in the area, starting from controlling the movement of vehicles that are included in the Cikande Modern Industrial Estate, Serang Regency, Banten.

"Then the second, related to the handling of contamination, at this time we continue to map the regions related to exposure to the radiation rate or contamination in more detail," said Rasio, who is the Head of the I Mitigation and Handling of Radiation Sources when contacted from Jakarta, Monday, quoted by Antara.

He explained that the ranks of the National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN) and the Nuclear Energy Supervisory Agency (Bapeten) who joined the Task Force (Satgas) for Handling the Hazard Insecurity of Radionuclide Radiation Sesium-137 (Cs-137) and Health in the Affected Society are conducting detailed mappings and surveys related to the potential for Cesium-137 radiation in the industrial area.

Regarding restrictions on movement in the industrial area, he explained that the Radiation Portal Monitor (RPM) was used as part of the decontamination process.

"For control arrangements for vehicles that enter and go in and out to ensure that we can control the movement of materials polluted with radiation Cesium-137," said Rasio.

Previously, Cesium-137's exposure was reportedly experienced by frozen shrimp products of PT BMS exported to the US, according to the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

KLH/BPLH then sealed PT Peter Metal Technology (PMT) in the Cikande Modern Industrial Estate, Serang Regency, Banten, which is suspected to be a source of radioactive contamination for frozen shrimp products.

The government has made efforts to decontaminate at a number of points, prepare temporary storage of Cesium-137 waste and handle residents' health.

Coordinating Minister for Food Zulkifli Hasan on the occasion on Tuesday (30/9) confirmed that cases of contamination of Cesium-137 radioactive substances in shrimp products only occurred in the Cikande Modern Industrial Estate and did not spread to the national and export supply chains.