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View all search resultsGovernment confirms widespread radioactive contamination at Banten industrial hub
An investigation into suspected radioactive contamination at the Cikande Industrial Estate commenced in August after the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) detected Cs-137 contamination in a sample of frozen shrimp imported from Indonesia. The shrimp originated from PT Bahari Makmur Sejati, a company operating within the Cikande area.
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Illustration of radioactive danger (Shutterstock.com/fewerton)
T
he government has declared a special radioactive contamination event at the Cikande Industrial Estate in Serang, Banten, after the discovery of widespread Cesium-137 (Cs-137) contamination in the area, which has affected at least nine people.
“The declaration of this special contamination event is intended to accelerate decontamination efforts in the affected area,” Coordinating Food Minister Zulkifli Hasan said on Tuesday, as quoted by Kompas.id.
Cs-137 is a man-made radioactive isotope generated through nuclear reactions. High levels of exposure to Cs-137 can cause severe burns, acute radiation sickness and increased cancer risk, and may even be fatal.
An investigation into suspected radioactive contamination at the Cikande Industrial Estate commenced in August after the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) detected Cs-137 contamination in a sample of frozen shrimp imported from Indonesia. The shrimp originated from PT Bahari Makmur Sejati, a company operating within the Cikande area.
In response, the Indonesian government suspended operations at Bahari Makmur Sejati’s production facility on Aug. 22, ordered a full environmental audit of the plant and instructed all workers to evacuate the site as a precautionary measure. On Sept. 11, a special task force was formed to conduct a thorough investigation into the incident.
Read also: Govt flags irradiated scrap from Philippines amid contaminated shrimp exports to US
Minister Zulkifli revealed that the source of the Cs-137 contamination was traced to the steel melting plant Peter Metal Technology (PMT), which is located approximately two kilometers from Bahari Makmur Sejati’s production facility. PMT reportedly imported scrap metal contaminated with Cs-137 as its raw material.
