Radioactive Cesium 137 As Chemical Bomb Mixture

Location of discovery of radioactive substances (Debi Astari / VOI)

JAKARTA - The discovery of Cesium 137 radioactive waste has raised concerns from the community of Batan Indah Housing, Serpong, South Tangerang. The Nuclear Energy Supervisory Agency (Bapeten) and the National Nuclear Energy Agency (Batan) guaranteed that radiation would not affect society, even though two people had previously tested positive for contamination.

Batan stated that it had no impact on human health because the level of exposure to radioactive compounds was still relatively low. The two residents were contaminated at 0.12 and 0.5 milisievert or far from the limit of 1 milisievert.

Based on the study and the results of Bapeten's observations, someone who is exposed to the maximum number, then, there is no need for any treatment steps to simply restore the body's condition. Later, the body's metabolism will automatically regenerate damaged cells.

In contrast to the impact of radioactive radiation, especially Cesium 137 on a person who exceeds 1 milisievert. Later, the person will experience symptoms of nausea, vomiting, and burning skin. In fact, if the radiation level is higher or shows above the 5 to 6 milisieverts, then death is the result.

"When there is 1 milisievert (contaminated), he will immediately be affected. His skin is burned, nauseous, vomiting. The limit is 5 or 6 to death," said Abdul Qohhar, PR of the Nuclear Energy Supervisory Agency (BAPETEN) to VOI, Tuesday, February 25th.

Location of discovery of radioactive substances in South Tangerang (Debi Astari / VOI)

For reasons and safety considerations, the distribution or use of radioactivity is strictly limited and monitored. The use of these hazardous compounds is only allowed for industrial and health activities.

For industrial activities, Casium 137 is often used as a tool for measuring paper, packaged drinks, which uses a scanner or detector. Meanwhile, utilization in the health sector is widely used for radiotherapy in hospitals.

However, it requires multiple layers of protection when using radioactive compounds. One example, during the radiotherapy process. Operators or medical personnel have never had direct contact with the medical devices used. Usually, there is a wall or glass dividing it.

It aims to prevent prolonged exposure to radiation and exceeds the limits of the human body's strength. "Whether it is used for medical or industrial use, there must be a separator or additional safety device," said Qohhar.

Bomb mix

Senior Researcher of the National Nuclear Energy Agency, Professor. Dr. Djarot S. Wisnubroto, said that Cesium 137 is likened to a sharp knife whose effects can be good or bad for humans. The bad impact is if the use of radioactive compounds is wrong or for crimes, chemical bombs can be made with Cesium 137 as a mixture.

"If it's bad, for example we think evil, and turn it into a dirty bomb. A mixture of conventional explosives and radioactive substances," said Djarot.

However, the use of Cesium 137 in bomb making, also poses a big risk. If you make a mistake just once, then, death will await the bomb maker because of exposure to so much radiation.

"So far, it is difficult to do this (to make bombs), because to mix it, the person concerned has already been exposed to radiation," said Djarot.

The Gegana team was alerted to the location of the discovery of radioactive substances (Debi Astari / VOI)

Returning to the discussion of the exposure in the housing complex of Batan Indah Housing, Serpong, South Tangerang, it was emphasized that it would not be harmful to humans. Because the handling has been done well, and the radiation level is still low.

In addition, a few days ago, the police also confiscated a suspected radioactive source from one of the houses. In which, five plastic packages containing flakes of radioactive substance Cesium 137, a data bundle of tin ts 208, and ts 209, as well as storage bottles, became some of the evidence that was secured.

In addition, in a house owned by a resident with the initials SM, an empty depleted and 4.5 kg depleted uranium were found with a dose of 1.48 microsive per hour. "(We also found) a dipper containing exposure mixed with soil or sand of 2.6 milisieverts," said Karo Penmas DivHumas Polri Brig. Gen. Argo Yuwono.

In an effort to investigate these findings, Police investigators have examined 17 witnesses regarding the radioactive source found in Batan Indah Housing, Setu, South Tangerang. "The witnesses examined include, the surrounding environment, Batan employees and Bapeten employees," said Argo.