V.Venugopal,S.B.WarrierandArunSharmaFood Technology Division

Workon radiationtreatmentof foodproductswasinitiatedmorethan100yeawithina fewyearsafterthediscoveryof X-rayby theGermanphysicistR1895.Duringthe WandWar Ii,particular interestwas shownin theHowever,becauseof lackof adequatecontrol of theprocess,mostofwereoverexposedto radiationresultingin undesirablechangesincludingthe eany twentieth century,detailedstudies.on irradiationof foo"undertakenby pioneerinstitutionssuchas MassacnusettsInstituteofUSAandNatickLaboratoriesoflheUs,_Armywhichledto more0,processto suit requirementsofindiyiduaLcommoditiesandthepur;:Thesestudiesledto thebirthoffoodirradiation.technologyasa novelpro,

:itothermalcanningandpasteurisationofmilk.Duringthe latterpartof the t,radiationprocessingof foodaneitems wererecognised.Thesesproutingin potatoandonion,(ripeningof fruits,elimination01stridesweremadein promachinesources,and insources.While the radioisot,by neutronbombardmentof naturi

FOODIRRADIAnON: RECENTGLOBALTRENDS

Contents

Foodirradiation:

recentglobaltrends 1

Schoolon 'Physicsof beams'.. ...8

BRNS- IANCASnationalworkshop....9

DAE-BRNSregionalworkshop ...10

""

IAEA-RCAtrainingworkshopon'Radiationprotectioninindustrialradiography'..

6. Trainingcourseon'Radioimmunossayanditsclinicalapplications'... ..12

.11

7. IAEA-RCAtrainingcourseon'In-serviceInspectionofresearchreacton;'.. ..13

8._"",,!!1t<i\;.."""". ...14

g. BARCscientistshonoured. ...15

respectively,electronandX-raymachineswerealsodevelopedfor radiationprocessingof foods.Thesesourceshavedifferentcharacteristicswith respectto their abilityto treat food products(Table1).Researchon basicaspectsof radiationprocessingof food alsoledtodetailedinfonmationon radiationsensitivities of food-borne micro-organisms,parasitesand insects,and biochemicalchangesassociatedwithdelayin npeningin irradiatedfruits.Radiationwasalsoshownto havepotentialuse incombinationwith vanous conventionalfoodprocessingtechniquesforuseaswhat is knownas'hurdletechnology'.This couldhelp reducetheradiationdosesrequiredto getdesiredeffectswithrespecttopreservationofpenshablefoodsincludingfish and meat products. Along with thesedevelopments,themajo:internationaldevelopmentcamethroughthe recognitionby a Joint ExpertCommitteeof WandHealthOrganization(WHO),Food and AgricultureOrganization(FAa) andinternationalAtomicEnergyAgency(IAEA)thatfoodirradiatedup to a maximumdoseof 10 kGy

was safe and did not require toxicologicalevaluation.In 1997,the ExpertCommitteealsoendorsedthesafetyof usingdoseshigherthan10kGy to achievea technologicalobjective.TheCodex Committee on Food Additives andContaminantsis also activelyconsidenngtheremovalof maximumdoselimitof 10kGy.Thiswillhelpuseof higher radiationdoses, thatmayberequiredto developfoodproductsthatareshelf-stableandready-to-<:ook.

MajorBenefits

Lowdosesof radiationbnngaboutimprovementsinqualityof foodswhichcan be beneficialin severalways.Theseinclude,controlof spoilageof foodcommodities,enhancementof hygienicqualityandsafefy of processedfoods, use of radiationtreatmentas a toolfor quarantinepurposeandasan alternativetochemicalfumigantsfor inactivationof insectsinfoodcommodities.

Typeofsource Advantages

Table1: Comparisonof ionizingradiationfrom differentsources

Disadvantages

Gamma Good penetrationReliable

Adjustable capacityProven technologySource, Co-50, Cs-137.

High efficiency andintensity

Beam shut-off

Electronbeam (EB)

X-rays Hybrid of electron beamand gamma

Good penetrationForward direction radiationSmail radiation area

Simple conveyorsLess product hold-up

Low energy and intensityContinuous emission

Licensing tightly regulatedCharactenzed as nuclear

Few number of suppliers

Limited penetration(0.5 em per MeV)Machine parameters

not easy to monitorPotential for interruption

Limited range of operationNot widely used in high

energy applications

High power machinestill under development

Low conversion efficiency

Higher cost than EBHigh heat in converter plate

Theroleof radiationprocessingin improvingfoodhygieneis beingwidelyrecognised.Accordingtothe WorldHealthOrganization(WHO),morethanonebiilioncasesofacutediarrheaoccurinchildren

undertheageof 5 yearsin developingcountries.Most of these illnesses are caused bycontaminationof foodby micro-organismsincludingSalmonellaandCampylobactersp.TheCentreforDiseaseControland Prevention,USA,estimatesthat there are 76 miilioncases of food-bomeillnessesresultingin 5000deathsannuallyin theUS. The high penetrationpowerof radiationisusefulto eliminateradiation-sensitivepathogenicmicroorganismssuchasSalmonella,Vibrio,Listeria,CampylobacterandEscherichiacoli0157: H7 frompre-packagedfoods inciudingpoultry,meatandfisheryproducts.Mostof theseorganismshavelowsensitivitiesto radiation,with D1Ovalues (doserequiredfor90%killing)of 1 kGyor less.DrJamesSteele,renownedpublichealthexpert,in hisarticlepublishedin the Twe~ty-firstCenturyScienceandTechnology magazine, has observed thatapplicationof food irradiationis a publichealthmeasure,whichislong-overdue.

Presenceof insectsand parasitesin importingfoods has beena causeof greatconcernwithrespectto internationallytradedagro-basedfoods.This has adverselyaffectedexportof fruits andvegetabiesfrom Asian to Europeancountries.Thesefoodsare currentlytreatedwith fumigantssuch as methyl bromide,ethylene dibromide,ethyleneoxide,etc.fordisinfestationpurposes.Thisworid-widepracticewillbe discontinuedbecauseoftherealisationofthe illeffectsofchemicalresidueson humanhealthand environment,and will bereplacedbyradiationprocessing.

Recent Consumer

IrradiatedFoods

Attitude towards

Consumer acceptance is a major parameter for any

food processing technique to become commercially

viable. A few decades ago, consumer organisationswere concerned about irradiation of foods. Their

concernswere several includingpossibilityoffoodsbecomingradioactive,possiblereplacementof good sanitarypractices,workeras well asenvironmentalsafety and economics.However,educational programmesfor the consumersunderiakenduringthelastfewdecadeshaveshownthat thesefearscouldberemoved.Ithasbeenwell

establishedthattheenergyof radiation(gamma,X-rayor electrons)usedfor treatingfoodis incapableofmakinganyof thefoodcomponentradioactive.Ina nationallyrepresentativesurveyduringMarch6-8, 1998, commissionedby the Food MarketingInstitute,the GroceryManufacturersAssociationofAmerica,the NationalRestaurantAssociationandthe AmericanMeat Institute,1003 respondentsgave their opinion about food irradiation.Theopinionsof the respondents includedconcernsabout possiblechemicalchanges,unsafefoodhandling, hazardousmaterials,worker safety,unnaturalway of treatingfoods,etc., while theconcernaboutradioactivityintreatedfoodwasmorecasual.Mostof theunfoundedfearwithrespecttothis technologystem from the word 'irradiation,'raising scare of nuclear holocaustin theconsumersmind. Accordingto a food sciencecommunicator,Christine Bruhn, Director forConsumerResearch,Universityof California,theuseof theterm'irradiation'canbemisleading.Shesuggestsspecific languagefor labels, namely'Treatedwith coid-pasteurization(irradiation)forimprovedsafety'(FoodTechnology,55 (1),2001,94).Recentsurveysconductedin USAandsomeother countrieshave indicated willingnessofconsumersto buyirradiatedfoodsevenat anextracost for the safetyof the products.in a surveyconductedby Universityof Georgia,USA,84%ofconsumersobservedthatirradiationwas'somewhatnecessary'or 'very necessary'.Similarpositiveresponseshave also been noted in consumersurveys conducted by the Food TechnologyDivision,BARC.

One majorconcernthat still existsamongsomesegmentsof consumersis the opinionthatuseofirradiationcanencouragepoorsanitaryconditionsin

foodprocessingplants.USFDAin December1997has madeimplementationof HazardAnalysisandCriticalControlPoints(HACCP)systemmandatoryinseafoodprocessingplantsinthecountryandalsoforseafoodexporte..to USA. Thereis a fearthatsuchsafetyprogrammesmaybe overlooked~ theprocessedproductswereto be irradiated.TheUSDepartmentof Agriculturein a February12,1999newsreleaseannouncedthatit willallowirradiation

of meat to help improve food safety. TheDepartmentobserved thaf 'when used inconjunctionwith other scienoe-basedpreventionefforts,irradiationcan provideconsume..with anaddedmeasureofprotection'.

InternationalApproval

Withtheobservationof theJointExpertCommitteeof FAO,IAEAand WHOin 1980,as mentionedabove,morethan40 countrieshaveapprovedfoodirradiation technology. The IntemationalConsultativeGroupon Food Irradiation(lCGFI),establishedundertheaegisofFAO,IAEAandWHOin 1984,helpsto evaluateglobeldevelopmentsinthefieldof foodirradiation,providea focalpointofadviceon the applicationof the technologyandfurnishinformationas requiredfromtimeto .time.TheCodexAlimentariusCommission,whichis theExecutiveOrgan of the Joint FAOIWHOFoodStandards Programme,adopted a GeneralStandardfor Irradiated Foods in 1983 andrecommendedInternationalCodeofPracticefortheoperationof radiationfacilitiesfor the treatmentoffoods. Underthescopeof ICGFI,FoodirradiationProcess Control School (FIPCOS)has beenestablishedto providetraining programmesforoperatOlSof irradiators. In India, a similarprogrammecalledTrainingCourseforOperato..ofFoodIrradiationFacilitiesisbeingconductedbytheFoodTechnologyDivision,BARC.

Severalcountrieshaveconductedmarketingtrialsonvariousfooditemssuchas irradiatedstrawbeny,papaya,mango,shrimp,spicesandwheatproducts.Clearancefor irradiationof shrimphave been

accordedandmarketingtrialshavebeenreportedinCanada,the Netherlands,and in some Asiancountries.Several professional bodies haveendorsedirradiationof food (Table2).TheUnitedStatesFoodand DrugAdministration(FDA)hasapprovedirradiationof a varietyof foods,includingfreshfruits,and vegetablesandspices(Table3).TheAdministrationhas recognisedthe importanceof safe foodsto avoidoutbreaksof food bornediseasesand the role of low dose irradiationin

realisingtheseobjectives.FDAisallowinguseofX-ray and electronbeam irradiationto treal pre-packagedfoods.FDAis consideringa petitionforclearanceof irradiationof shellfishfor sanitization.

Recently, a coalition of food industry tradeassociations,healthorganisations,academicandconsumergroupsundera commonbannerof 'TheFood IrradiationCoalition'has filed a petitionrequestingUSFDA to extendtheuseof irradiationto ready-to-eatproducts.

Table2 : Someprofessionalbodiesendorsingfood irradiation

Food and Agricultural Organization

World Health Organization

Food and Drug Administration, USA

National Food Processo.. Association, USA

The American Association of Meat Processors

The American Spice Trade AssociationFood Distributors International, USA

The Food Marketing Insmute, USA

The Food Safeguards Council, USAThe Infection Control Advisory Network, USA

The National Cattlemen's Beef Association, USA

The National Chicken Council, USA

The National Meat Association, USA

American Society of Microbiology

Association of Food and Drug Officials, USAConsumerAlert, USACentrefor DiseaseControl and Prevention, USA

US Department of Agriculture

Institute of Food Technologists, USA

Table 3: Approval of irradiationfor various foods by the US Food and Drug Administration

Ad'ptedfrom,a"'", D.G,1998."",dl,"oo orFood-SdeclificS"tusSumma~', FoodT",hooJogy,Vol.52(1), 56-61.

The EuropeanParliamentand the CouncilofEuropeanUnion have adopted the Directive1999/3/EContheestablishmentofa communitylistof foodsandfoodingredientstreatedwithionizingradiation.Foodstuffsauthorisedfor irradiationtreatmentincludedriedaromaticherbs,spicesandvegetableseasoningsto a maximumoverallaverageabsorbedradiationdoseof 10kGy.Amongthe memberstatesof the EU, Belgium,France,Italy, theNetheriandsandUnitedKingdomhavegivenuncenditionalclearancefor treatingseveralfoods(Table4). In theyear2000, Germanyhasgiven clearancefor irradiationof dried herbs,vegetableseasoningsandspicesat a doseof 10kGy. Other member states such as Austria,Greece,Luxembourg,Portugal,IrelandandSwedenare likely to permitthe marketingof irradiatedfoodstuffs.In September2001, Australiahasclearedherbs,herbalinfusionandspicesat6 and30kGy,asperrequirements.

CommercialApplications

Currently,over30countriesare usingirradiafionoffoodsonacommercialscaleincludingUSA,France,

The Netherlands,Belgium,Hungary,SouthAfricaandIndia.Ithasbeenestimatedthatabout300,000metrictonnesof irradiatedfoodswereavailablein

theworldmarketsin theyear2000,spicesformingbulk of the irradiateditems.The availabilityofirradiatedspicesaloneindifferentmarketsincludingthose in EuropeanUnionincreasedfrom 10,000tonnesin1990to90,000tonnesin2000.Therewasa rapiddevelopmenton commercialapplicationoffood irradiationin the USAduringthe year2000followingthe approvalof the US DepartmentofAgriculturefor qualitycontrolof irradiatedmeat(toeliminatepathogenicbacteria)in February2000.Startingin mid-May2000,irradiatedgroundbeefwas put on sale in 84 supermarketstores.Thenumberof supermarketssellingthe product hasmultipliedsignificantlyby the end of the year.Approximately200 metrictonnesof groundbeefwereirradiatedperweekusingtwoelectronbeammachineslocatedat Iowaand Florida,USA.Theproduct, labelled as 'electron irradiated' or'electronicallypasteurised',attractedgoodcensumerresponse.A commercialX-ray irradiationfacilityinHawaiistartedoperationin July 2000and has

Product Dose(kGy) Purpose DateWheat,wheatfiour 0.2-0.5 Insectdisinfestation 1963Whitepotatoes 0.05-0.15 Sproutinhibition 1964Pork 0.3-1.0 Controlof Trichinellasp. 1985Fruit 1.0 Disinfestation,Delayinripening 1986Vegetables,fresh 1.0 Disinfestation 1986Herbs 30.0 Microbialcontrol 1986Spices 30.0 Microbialcontrol 1986Vegetableseasonings 30.0 Microbialcentral 1986Poultry,freshorfrozen 3.0 Microbialcentral 1990Animalfeedandpetfood 2.0-25.0 Salmonellacontra 1997Meat,uncooked,chilled 4.5 Microbialcentral 1997Meat,uncooked,frozen 7.0 Microbialcentral 1997Eggs 8.0 Salmonellacentral 2000Seeds 3.0 Microbialcontrol 2000Rawandprocessedcrustaceans Microbialcontrol UnderReady-to-eatfoods Microbialcontrol Consideration

(Poultry,fruits&vegetables)

Table4 : Authorisationof irradiationof foodandfood ingredientsby memberstatesof EuropeanCouncil

Awhoriseduodef Art<le4 (6}1999I21ECollhe Europe" Parliam"l"d oftheCou,," oolhe approximatiooofthe laws01MembeeStatesconcemin9

loodsandfood ingeedien"hBatedwith iooisingrndiatioo.BE,Belgium;FR,Frnn",; 1T,lIaly;NL,The Nelhedands;UK,UnitedKingdom.

Soue",;MarinaProduclsExportDe,,'opmenIAulhmity, Coehin,Newsleffee,Vol.7,N02. February2002.

treatedcommercialvolumesof fruits,particularly,papayato meetquarantinerequirementsin theUSmainland.Severalnew commerciaiirradiatorsareunderconstructionin the US statesof Arkansas,NewJerseyandNewYork.

In othercountries,duringthe pasttwoyears,newcommercialirradiatorshavebeencommissionedfor

treating food. In India, the Governmenthasaccordedclearancefor radiationprocessingof anumberof products(Table5).A plantfor irradiationofspiceshasbeenoperatingforthe lasttwoyears,and anotherplantfor sproutcontrolof onionis

expectedto be completedshortlyat Lasalgaon,near Nasik in Maharashtra.A women'ssocial

organisation,AnnapurnaMahilaMandai,hastakenu!"marketingof irradiatedspicesinconsumerpacksthroughtheirretailoutletsin Mumbai.Theproductsare irradiatedat thespiceplantbeingoperatedbythe Boardof RadiationIsotopeand Technology,locatedatVashi,NaviMumbai.

Chemicalfumigationof fooditemsis intheprocessof being phasedout. Ethylenedibromidewasbannedas a fumigantin 1984in theUSA.UndertheMontrealProtocol,methylbromide,becauseof

Product AuthorisedmaximumoverallaverageabsorbedRadiationdose(kGv)

BE FR IT NL UKDeeD-frozenaromaticherbs 10Potatoes 0.15 0.15 0.2Yams 0.2Onions 0.15 0.075 0.15 0.2Garlic 0.15 0.075 0.15 0.2Shallot 0.15 0.075 0.2

VeDetables,oulses 1.0

Fruit(includesfunai,tomato,rhubarb! 2.0

Driedveae-tables,fruils 1.0 1.0Cereals 1.0

Cerealflakes,Dermsformilk Droducts 10Cerealflakes 1.0Riceflour 4.0Gumarabic 3.0 3.0Chickenmeat 7.0Poultrv 5.0 7.0DebonedDoultrvmeat 5.0OffalDDultry 5.0FrozenfrooleDs 5.0 5.0 5.0

Dehvdratedblood,Dlasma 10.0

Fish,shellfish,molluscs 3.0

FrozenDeeledshrimD 5.0 5.0Shrimps 3.0Eaowhite 3.0 3.0

Casein,caseinates 6.0

Table5: Clearancesfor radiationprocessedfoodsby Governmentof India

its ozone-depletingproperty,will be bannedinadvancedcountriesby 2005 and in developingcountriesby theyear2015.Irradiation,whichdoesnotleaveanyresiduesinthefood,hasthepotentialto successfully replace chemical fumigationpractices.Theroleof foodirradiationas a sanitaryand phytosanitarytool has beenwell recognised.The Interim Commission for PhytosanitaryMeasuresof the IntemationalPlant ProtectionConventionin its thirdsessionheld in April2001agreed to develop internationalstandardsonirradiationasaphytosanitarytreatment.Commercialapplicationof irradiationas a sanitary andphytosanitarytreatmentfor fruits and vegetableshasalreadybeeninitiatedintheUSA..

Although several countries have permittedirradiationof foods,atpresentinter-countrytradeinirradiatedfoods is not commondue to lack ofharmonisedregulatoryinfrastructure.Becauseofthis,several.products,for whichirradiationcan beprofitably applied, are not yet available in

internationalmarkets.Harmonisationof regulationsfor food irradiationand commercialscalefacilities

are important for commercialisationof foodirradiationtechnology.There is an effort in thisdirectionbasedontheCodexGeneralStandardforIrradiatedFoodsand relevantrecommendationsofthe InternationalConsultativeGroup on FoodIrradiation.Sucha regulationwill ultimatelyopeninternationalmarkets to irradiated fruits and

vegetables treated to meet quarantinerequirements.It is expectedthat standardsat aninternationallevel for use of irradiationas a

phytosanitarymeasureandfor treatmentof foodswill be availableby 2003. It is likely that theemergingareasof commercialapplicationsof foodirradiationarelikelyto befocusedonimprovementof food satety, quarantinetreatmentof freshhorticulturalproduceandasa substituteforcurrentfumigationpractices.

Fooditem Radiationdose(kGy) PurposeMinimum Maximum

Onions 0.03 0.09 SproutinhibitionPotatoes 0.06 0.15 Sproutinhibition

Shallots(smallonions), 0.03 0.15 Sproutinhibition

garlicandgingerRice,semolina(sooji, rawa) Atta 0.25 1.0 Insectdisinfestation

(wheatflour),maidaPulses 0.25 1.0 InsectdisinfestationDriedseatood 0.25 1.0 Insectdisinfestation

Resins,driedfigs,dates 0.25 0.75 Insectdisinfestation

Mango 0.25 0.75 Shelflifeextension&quarantine

Meatandmeatproducts 2.5 4.0 Shelf life extension,pathogencontrol

Spices 6.0 14.0 MicrobialcontrolFreshseafood 1.0 3.0 ShelflifeextensionFrozenseafood 4.0 6.0 Pathogencontrol

SCHOOLONBEAMS'

'PHYSICS

The 'ChargedParticleAccelerators'haveplayedakeyrolein theareaof basic andappliedsciencesincludingindustry.To spreaditsawarenessamongthe youngstudentsbelongingto the Universitiesandthe NationalInstitutes,a two-weekschoolonthe 'Physicsof Beams'wasorganizedby BARCatthe HomiBhabhaCentrefor ScienceEducation,

Mumbai.It was inauguratedby Dr V.C. Sahni,Director,PhysicsGroup,BARC,on December24,2001. About 50 students from the differentuniversitiesandthenationalinstitutesparticipatedinit. Teachersfor theschoolweredrawnfromBARC,Mumbai,CAT, Indore,VECC,Kolkata,and Pune

University.The school was sponsoredby theDepartmentof ScienceandTechnologyand wasthe sixthin the series.The otherfive havebeenheldatCAT,Indore.

The inaugural function of the school on 'Physics of Beams'.Seated from left to right a",: Dr RV. Nandedkac CAT tndo"',

Chaionan, Organising Committee, Or V.C. Sahni, Oi",ctoc

Physics Group, BARC, Dr H.C. P",dhan, Dean, Homi BhabhaCent", for Science Education, Mumbai and Dr S. Krishnagopat,

CAT/ndo"', Convenoroftheschoot.

The topicsccveredincludedthe physicsof RFUnacs,Cyclotrons,Synchrotrons,StorageRingsand DC accelerators.Special topics iike FreeEiectronLasersandChaoswerealsotaught.Apartfrom the exhaustiveexposureto the theoryofaccelerators,thestudentsweregiventhehandouts

OF

Dr RC. Sethi,Head,Acxele",tor& PulsePowerDMsion,BARC,deliveringthep",sidentiatadd"",

andtutorials,as anaidto understandthesubjectina betterway.And,for furtherinsight,quitea fewlaboratoryexperimentswereccnductedwithinthepremisesof BARC.Theseexperimentsdeaitwiththe characterisationof RFcavities,electronbeamsources,DC magneticfield and the measuringdevices.The experimentswere backedup byeducationalvisitsto FOTIAandindustrialElectronAcceleratorslike500keY& ILU6.

Dr V.C. Sahni,Director,PhysicsGroup,BARC,givingtheinaugu",ttalk

TheschoolwasccncludedonJanuary4,2002, witha half-day seminar on the 'ApplicationofAccelerators'.In this seminar,Dr S.S. Kapoor,Professor,HomiBhabhaChair,gavea talkon the'Roleof Acceleratorsin NuclearEnergy',Dr R.V.Nandedkarccveredthetopicon the 'ApplicationofSynchrotronRadiations',and Dr R.C.Sethi,Head,Acceleratorand PulsedPower Division,BARC,highlightedtheirroleintheindustry.

BRNS. IANCASNATIONALWORKSHOP

The IndianAssociationof NuclearChemistsand

Allied Scientists(IANCAS)conductedits 46.NationalWorkshopat Jiwaji University,Gwalior,duringDecember3-11,2001.

BRNS~ANCASWorlrshopatGwalior.Seatedfromlefftoright:Dr Radha Tom" WorlrshopDirector,Jiwaji Universffy,Dr V.Natarajan,WorlrshopCoordinator,Dr G.ARamaRoo,General Secretary, IANCAS, Prof V.P.Saxena,Vice-ChanceI/o,Jiwaji University,Prof Girish Saxena.Vice-Chancal/o,B.R.AmbadkarUniversffy.Agra.MrS<JrandranathYadav. InspectorGaneral01 Polica (ChambalReg/on),ex-BARCSclenlist.Dr V. Vanugopal,Head.FuelClJamislryDivision,BARC and Vice-President,IANCASand ProfKK.Dwivedi,Dean,Facul/y01Science,GwaliorUniversity.

Prof.G.C.Saxena,Vice-Chancellor,B.R.Ambedkar

University,Agra, in his inaugural address,highlightedthe progressin the field of atomicenergy, medicineand agricultureand advisedresearchscholarsto focustheirquestin thefrontalareasofscience.Prof.V'pSaxena,Vice-Chancellor,JiwajiUniversity,Gwalior,presidedoverthefunctionandappreciatedtheaimof theWorkshopin givingpracticalknowledgeof hands-onexperienceinhandlingradioisotopestotheteachers.MrSurendraNathYadav,InspectorGeneralof Police,ChambalDivision,an ex-BARCscientist,wasthe GuestofHonour.Dr V.Venugopal,Head,Fuel ChemistryDivision, BARC and Vice-President,IANCAS,deliveredthe keynoteaddresson 'OverviewofIndianNuclearFuelCycle'.Hesaidthatthe IndianNuclearEnergy programmeis a self-sufficient

3-stageprogrammecomprisingofpowerproductionfrom naturaluranium,use of plutoniumin fastreactorsanduseof thoriumtogetU-233tosustainthe cycle.Dr G.A.RamaRao,GeneralSecretary,IANCAS,elucidatedthe variousactivitiesof theassociationin impartingtrainingin radiochemistrytoteachingcommunityand researchscholarsfromdifferentuniversitiesacrossthecountry.Dr RadhaTomar, Workshop Director, Jiwaji University,proposedthevoteof thanks.

Mr S.C.P.arida, Fuel Chemisiry Division, BARC, conducting an

experimentonhaff-Iffedetenninalionol Ba-137m.

44 facultymembersand29 researchscholarsfromall branchesof science participatedin theWorkshop.Therewere10 ResourcepersonsfromDAE who gave lectureson varioustopics in"RadiochemistryandApplicationsof Radioisotopes".Dr ArunSharma,Head,FoodTechnologyDivision,BARC, gave a lectureon the applicationsofradioisotopesin food preservation,and explainedvariousactivitiesof BRNSin the promotionofresearchin universities.Dr (Ms) Karirfrom BRiTgavean invitedtalkon Radioimmunoassayat thelocalCancerhospitaloninvitation.DrS.B.Manohar,President,IANCAS,gavea lectureon Radioactivityin the K.R. Post GraduateCollegefor Women.Dr G.A.RamaRaoandDrB.S.Tomaransweredthe

questionsfrom12"std.studentsonRadioactivityatSt.Paulconvent.80 studentsparticipatedin thisprogramme.Dr V. Natarajanwas the WorkshopCoordinatorand Mr S.C.Paridawas the PracticalCoordinatoronbehalfof IANCAS.

The valedictoryfunctionwas presidedover byProf.V.P.Saxena,and Prof.Satyaprakash,Dean,Facultyof Science,DayalbaghInstituteof Science,wastheChiefGuest.Avideoshow,providedbythePublicity Division, DAE, titled 'Blessing toHumankind'and 'Atoms for peace', was wellappreciated.

Financialsupportfor the BRNS-IANCASNationalWorkshopwasextendedbyBRNS.

DAE-BRNSREGIONALWORKSHOP

BiomedicalGroup,BARC,and KeralaAgriculturalUniversity(KAU),Trichur,Kerala,jointlyorganisedaWorkshopon the 'Impact of ApplicationsofRadiationon Foodand Agriculture'at KAU onDecember27and28,2001.

Dr Anil Kakodkar, Chairmen, AEC. lighting the inaugural lamp.

Others standing are Mr PoP. Geol!le. MLA. Ms KR. GauriAmma, Minister for Agriculiure. Government of Kerala, Dr (Ms)AM. Samuel. Director, Biomedical Group and Chairperson of

Ihe Workshop. Dr K V. Peter. Vice-Chancellor, KAU,Dr K Kumaran. Diractor, Research, KAU, and Dr KKSurendranathan. NABT, BARC. Canvenorofthe Workshop.

Theobjectiveof the Workshopwas to createanawarenessamongstthe tacultyandscientistsfromvariouseducationaland researchinstitutionsofKeraiaaboutthecontributionsmadein the fieldofnuclearagricultureandfoodpreservationby BARCand identitythe scopefor interactiveresearchintheseareas.

Withthisobjectiveinview,a well-focusedWorkshopin the area of nuclearagricultureand radiationpreservationof food was conducted.As theapplicationsof radiationand radioisotopeswas asubjectto whichtherewaslittleexposure,thefirstsessiondeliberatedon the myths and realitypertainingto radiation,irradiatorsand radiationprocessing.Its mainintentionwasto clearofftheapprehensionsand misconceptionsamongsttheparticipantsabout the effect of radiationandradioisotopes.

The Workshopwas inauguratedby the Hon'bleMinisterfor Agriculture,Govemmentof Kerala,MsK.R.GauriAmma,whoassuredthatthe StateGovernmentwoulddisplaythepoliticalsagacityandcommitmentto usherthe technologydevelopedsofar toachievefoodsecurityandvalueaddition.Sheremindedtheaudiencethatit washightimetohaveanother"greenrevolution".

1

I

The chiefguestof the inauguralfunctionof theWorkshop,Dr Anti Kakodkar,Chairman,AtomicEnergyCommissionandSecretary,GovemmentofIndia,Departmentof AtomicEnergy,pointedoutthat thedevelopedcountries,includingtheUnitedStatesandChinaandmanyEuropeanStates,useradiationprocessingas an effectiveprocessforextensionof shelflifeandvalueadditionofseveral

food commodities.He urged the agriculturaluniversitiesalloverthecountryto comefolWardtoclearthemisconceptionsof theprocessandreachthebenefitsof thetechnologyto thecommonman.

Dr (Ms)AM. Samuel,Director,BiomedicalGroup,BARC,inheraddressasGuestof Honour,informedthe gatheringthat BARChadalreadyestablishedcollaborativeresearchwitha numberofuniversitiesin the fieldof foodandagriculture.Sheexpressedthe hope that the Workshopwouldact as theintertacefor a strongtie-upto initiatecollaborativeresearchbetweenBARCand KAUin the areas

havingdirectrelevanceto Kerala,especiallycropimprovement,post-harvestpreservationof spices,fruits, fish and meat, employing radiationtechnology.

J

10

ProfessorK.V.Peter,theVice-Chancellor,KAUandChairman,OrganisingCommittee(KAU),whilegivingthe welcomeaddress,lookedforwardfor ausefulcollaborationbetweenBARCand KAUto

deveiop interactive research and enrich thescientificenvironment.ProfessorPeterlaudedthecontributionsof BARCin agriculturalresearchandplacedon recordhis appreciationof the earnesteffortofBARCinconductingthisWorkshop.

Dr KK Surendranathan,the Convenorof theWorkshop,elaboratedonthe themeanddesignofthe Workshopand expressedthe hopethat thisWorkshopwould clear the apprehensionsandmisconceptions,if any, regardingradiationand itsappiications.DrN.Saifudeen,Secretary,OrganisingCommittee,proposeda voteof thanks.

TheWorkshopgeneratedconsiderableenthusiasmamongsta numberof scientistsattendingtheWorkshop.Ameaningfulandconstructivediscussionon the potentialsand prospectsof projectsforcollaborativeresearchwerediscussedat lengthinthe conciudingsession.Dr S.F. D'Souza,Head,Nuclear Agriculture& BiotechnologyDivision,BARC,Dr K.B.Sainis,Head,CellBiologyDivision,BARC,Dr A.K.Sharma,Head,FoodTechnologyDivision,BARC, and Dr S.K. Mahajan,Head,MolecularBiology& AgricultureDivision,BARC,detailedon the scopeand feasibilityof variousprojectswhichcameupfordiscussionandidentifiedthe possibleareas for developingcollaborativeprojects.

Besidesmotivatingto holdthisWorkshop,DrA.P.Jayaraman,Head,MediaRelations,LlSD,BARC,couldgeneratean intensivediscussionamongtheKeraiapublicthroughthe 'Media'reportson thebenefitsof applicationsof radiationfor improvementin agriculturaiproductionand control of foodlossesdue to spoilage.Dr M.V.Thampi,LLRR,CBD, BARC, thankedthe Vice-ChancellorandfacultyofKAUforalltheirhelpandeffortsinmakingthisWorkshopa success.

11

IAEA.RCATRAININGWORKSHOPON'RADIATIONPROTECTIONIN INDUSTRIALRADIOGRAPHY'

The RadiologicalPhysics & AdvisoryDivision(RPAD)of theHealth,Safety&EnvironmentGroup,BARC,conducteda one-weekIAEA-RCATrainingWorkshopon 'RadiationProtectionin IndustrialRadiography'atHotelParleInternational,VileParle,Mumbai, during February 11-15, 2002. TheWorkshopwas inauguratedby Dr VVenkatRaj,Director,Health, Safety & EnvironmentGroup,BARC.DrB.C.Bhatt,Head,RadiologicalPhysics&Advisory Division, BARC, welcomed theparticipants.Dr JohnWheatley,RadiationSourceSpecialistfromIAEA,alsoa facultymemberfortheWorkshop,briefedtheparticipantsandthe inviteesaboutthe trainingprogrammeandtheroleof IAEA.Dr K. Raghuraman,RCANationalRepresentative,DAE,talkedabouttheexcellentworkbeingdoneinthe fieid of radiation protectionunder RCAprogrammes.Mr D.P. Bhatia, CourseDirector,proposedthevoteof thanks.

Dr V. Venket Raj, Diractoc HS&E Group, BARC, giving the

inaugural address at the IAEA-RCA Worlcshop on 'Radiatk>nProtection in Induslrial Radiography'. Seated on the dais (Ieff to

right) are Dr B.C. Bhatt, Head, RP&AD, Dr John Wheat/ey,Radiation Sou"e Specialist, IAEA and Dr K. Raghuraman,RCA Nationel Reprasentative, DAE

Twenty-oneparticipants,twoeachfromIndonesia,Republicof Korea, Malaysia,PhillippinesandThailand,oneeachfromChina,Mangolla,Myanmarand Vietnamand sevenfrom Indiaattendedthe

Workshop.The faculty consistedof Dr JohnWheatleyfrom IAEA,Dr (Ms)JoaneShawfromNRPB,UK,apartfromelevenseniorofficersfromBARC,AERBandBRIT.Thecourseconcentrated

onthe Importanceof radiationmonitoring,safetyinhandlingof radiographysources,radiationaccidentsthatmayoccurand haveoccurred,originof suchaccidentsand lessons learnt from them. Theprogrammeconsistedof 18 lecturesanda visittoBRIT,Vashi.DuringtheWorkshop,theparticipantsalsogavepresentationson thestatusof radiationprotectionin the respectivememberstatesandsharedtheirexperiencesinthefield.

Mr GR. Srinivasan, Vice-Chairman, AERB, giving the

vatedictory address on the con~uding day of the Wori<shop.Seated on the dais are (left to right) Dr AN. Nandakumar, Co-Cou",e Director, Dr John Wheatley, Dr B.C. Bhall, and Mr D.P.Bha/ia, Cou",a Director

Theprogrammewasconcludedby summingupofthe deliberationsof the Workshopby Dr AN.Nandakumar,Co-Course Director. Dr JohnWheatley,in his remarksabout the Workshop,pointedoutthattheprogrammewaswellconductedand hopedthat it wouldbe veryfruittulfor theparticipantsintheirprofessionwhentheygobacktotheircountries.He thankedBARCfor hostingtheWorkshop in India and making excellentarrangementsfor the stayof the participantsandthe facultyfrom abroad,and for the hospitality

offered.MrG.R.Srinivasan,Vice-Chairman,AERB,in his valedictoryaddress to the participants,stressedthe importanceof safetyin anyactivityingeneraland in the use of radiationin particular.RP&AD,BARC,offeredtoconduct,incollaborationwith IAEA,moresuchprogrammesin the fieldofRadiologicalSafety. All the participantswereawardedcertificatesbytheIAEA

TRAININGCOURSEON'RADIOIMMUNOASSAYANDITS CLINICALAPPLICATIONS'

The43'" batchof the trainingcourseon 'Radio-immunoassayand its ClinicalApplications'wasjointly organisedby the RadiopharmaceuticalsDivision and Board of Radiation & IsotopeTechnologyat DoctorsDiagnostic& ResearchCentre (DDRC), Thiruvananthapuram,duringDecember6-21,2001.

Mr B Bhallachaljee,Director,BARC,inauguretingthe 43"batchof the treiningcou",e on 'Radioimmunoassay& itsClinicalApplications'.

Radioimmunoassaysand immunoradiometricassaysaresensitiveandspecificanalyticaltoolsforthemeasurementof minute(nano-molarandlower)concentrationsof bio-moleculessuchas hormones,tumourmarkers,etc.inbloodandotherbodyfluids.Millionsof assaysarecarriedoutwortdoverevery

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yearandthe applicationsof immunoassayshaveextendedto manyotherareasin the recentpast.Since 1980,RadiophanmaceuticalsDivisionhasbeen conductingtraining courses on 'Radio-immnoassayandits ClinicalApplications'regularlyand over a thousandmedicaland paramedicalprofessionalshavebeentrainedthusfar. Morethan500 RIA laboratorieshave been establishedin

Indiamannedbysuchtrainedpersonnel.

Mr B. Bhaffacharyee, Director, BARC, along with the lacufty

and trainees 01 the 43'" batch 01 the training course on'Radioimmunoassay & fts Clinical Applications".

DoctorsDiagnostic&ResearchCentre(DDRC)is aspecialitylaboratorychain in Kerala offeringacompletespectrumofclinicalanalyticalservicesandis managedby Mr Joy Joseph,AdministrativeDirector.

The trainingcoursewas inauguratedby Dr B.Bhattachariee,Director, BARC in a functionpresidedoverby Dr V.K.Raian,Directorof HealthServices,Galli.of Kerala,andwas heldat HotelResidencyTowers,Thiruvanthapuram.Theinauguralfunction was attended by over 300 inviteddignitaries.Dr (Ms.)AM. Samuel,Director,Bio-medicalGroup, BARC, deliveredthe key-noteaddress. Prof.BalaramanNair,MedicalDirector,DDRC,gavethewelcomeaddress,andDr M.RAPillai,Head,RadiophanmaceuticalsDivision,BARCandSeniorGeneralManager,Medical& BiologicalProductsProgramme,Boardof Radiation& IsotopeTechnology,gave an introductionto the course.Dr N. Ramamoorthy,Chief Executive,BoardofRadiationand IsotopeTechnology& AssociateDirector, Isotope Group, BARC, and Prof.

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M.O. Annamma,Director, Medical Education,Govemmentof Kerala,addressedtheaudienceonsomerelevantaspectsof RIA practice. 19 para-medical professionals working in variouslaboratoriessuch as pathologyclinics, endo-crinologylaboratoriesofvarioushospitals,etc.fromall over India participatedand successfullycompletedthiscourse.

Mr B. Bhaffachaljee,Director,BARCaddrassingthe prassconlerance.

A pressconferencewas also organisedaftertheinauguralfunction in which Mr Bhattacharieeanswereda varietyof questionsrelatedto theAtomicEnergyProgramme.Thepressconferencewascoveredby allthemajorTVchannelsof KeralaandtherewasawidecoverageinthePress.

IAEA-RCATRAININGCOURSEON 'IN-SERVICEINSPECTIONOFRESEARCHREACTORS'

Atwo-weektrainingcourseon'In-ServiceInspectionof ResearchReactors'was organisedby ReactorGroup,BARC,duringJanuary21-February6,2002.Thecoursewasconductedby IAEA-RCAforAsia-Pacificregionin collaborationwith GovemmentofIndia. The course was meantto increasethe

awarenessin the field of in-serviceinspectionofresearchreactors.A total of 30 participants,including11 foreignparticipantsfromBangladesh,

China, Indonesia, PhiHppines,Korea, Thailand and

Vietnam, underwent the training course.

Mr P.S. Rao of Reactor Group, BARC, speaking during the

inaugural function of the IAEA-RCA training course. Others inthe pictura inctude (from leU): Mr D.K. Lahini, Reactor Group,BARC, Prof. Theodora Parish, IAEA, Chief Guest, Mr S.K.

Sharma, Diracto" Reactor and Engineering Services Groups,

BARC, Mr S. Sanka" Associate Diracto" Reactor Group,

BARC, Dr V. Venkat Rai, Diracto" HeaUh, Safety andEnvironment Group, BARC, Mr AC. Tikku, Head, RRSD,BARC & Course Directo" Mr S.K. Mishra, Assistant CourseDirector, HeaUh,Safety & Environment Group, BARC

MrS.K.Sharma,Director,ReactorandEngineeringServicesGroups,BARC,inauguratedthe trainingprogramme.Mr AC. Tikku, Head, ResearchReactorServicesDivision,BARC,wasthe,CourseDirectorand Mr S.K. Mishra,Health,Safety&EnvironmentGroup, BARC, was the AssistantCourseDirector.

ChiefGuestMr AK. Anand,formerDirecto"TechnicatCo.ordinetionand IntemationatRelationsGroupand ReactorProjects Group, BARC and former RCA NationalReprasentative,handingovertheIAEAcertificatetooneoftheparticipantsfromKoraaduringtheValedictoryfunction.

Thecourseprogrammeconsistedof 23lecturesonvarioustopicssuchas rationalefor ISIof researchreactors,materialdegradiationmechanisms,non-destructive examination techniques, flawcharacterisationand residual Hfe assessment.Lectures on ISI of concrete structuresandelastomericcomponents,appHcationof robotics,ISIof pool type researchreactors,designingfor ISI,trainingandcertificationof NDTpersonnelfor ISI,radioiogical,codalandregulatoryaspectsof ISIforresearchreactorswerealsoincluded.Invitedtalks

on topicssuchassafetyof nuclearfacilities,ISIofnuclear power plants, material behaviourinresearchreactors,advancesinNDEtechniquesandISI for ageingassessmentwerealsoincludedforthebenefitof theparticipants.Duringtheirtechnicalvisit to BARC participantswere given Hvedemonstrationof various NDT instruments

employedfor ISIwork,includingremoterepairtoolsandspecialgadgetsdevelopedindigenouslyfor ISIof in-corecomponentsinPHWRandBWR.

A bookof lecturenoteswasfonmallyreleasedbyDr V. Venkat Rai, Director,Health,Safety &EnvironmentGroup,BARC,and Chairman,BARCSafetyCouncil.Mr AK. Anand,formerDirector,TechnicalCoordination& IntemationalRelations

Groupand ReactorProjectsGroup,BARCandfonmerRCANationalRepresentative,presidedoverthe Valedictoryfunctionand awardedthe trainingcoursecompletioncertificatestoalltheparticipants.

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BARC SCIENTISTSHONOURED

. Mr B.K. Shah, Atomic FuelsDivision,BARC,hasbeenelectedaslife Fellowof the IndianSocietyforNon-destructiveTesting. He hasalso been appointedas Regional

Controller of Examination(Western Region),NationalCertificationBoardonNOT.

. The IndianPhysicsAssociation(lPA)has beenawardingprizesforbest Ph.D. thesis presentationinNuclearandSolidStatePhysicsforthe past manyyears.In the DAE

NuclearPhysicsSymposiumheld at KolkatainDecember2001,DrL.M.PantfromNuclearPhysicsDivisionwas awardedthe IPA pr",efor his thesisentitled,"Heavy Ion InducedFusion - FissionReactions",basedon his workcarriedout at theBARC- TIFRPelletronacceleratorfacility..DrA.K.Tyagi,Head,SolidState

Chemistry Section, AppliedChemistryDivision, BARC, waspresented'Dr Laxmi Award' byIndianAssociationof Solid StateChemistsandAlliedScientists,at its

biennial conference, at Indian Institute ofTechnology,Kanpur,in December2001.Thisawardwas conferredon him in recognitionof hiscontributionin the areaof SolidStateChemistry.Someof the majorresearchactivitiespursuedbyhim are in the areasof highTosuperconductors,rare-earthbased fluorides,mixedoxides, ionicconductors, thoria based nuclear fuels,nanocrystallineceramics,etc.

Dr A. Vinod Kumar ofEnvironmentalAssessmentDivision,BARC,receivedthe'ProfR.C.SinghMedal"on December2, 2001 fromtheInstitutionof Engineers(India)as

a subjectaward for the paper, "DepositionofAmbientAir Constitufentsat a TrafficJunctioninMumbai'.Thispaperwaspublishedintheirjournal,TheInstitutionof Engineers(India)EnvironmentalSection,EN81,pp. 48-51,2001. This paperisauthoredby A Vinod Kumar,RS. Patil,K.S.V.NambiandT.M.Krishnamoorthy.. Dr P.V.Yardeof ReactorOperationsDivision,BARC, presenteda paper entitled "Simulationof PHWRDatausing ArtificialNeural Network

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Ifor TransientIdentification",atthe InternationalConference on

Quality,Reliabilityand Controls

(lCQRC-2001)held at Hotel Le RoyalMeridian,Mumbai. The paper was co-authored byR Chowdhury,GopikaVinod,AK. BabarandH.S.Kushwaha,andwas adjudgedas oneof thebestpapersintheconference.

Dr Yarde(leff in the abovephotograph)wasalsoinvitedto beCo-Chairmanforoneof theTechnicalSessionson"Controls"inthisconference..Mr S.K. Khobareof Reactor

Control Division, BARC, waspresenfed a 'Certificate ofAppreciation'for his KeynoteAddressentitled,"QualityandReliabiiityIssuesin Computer-

basedControlInstrumentationSystemsin NuclearPowerPlants",at the IntemationalConferenceonQuality, Reliabilityand Controls (ICQRC-2001)organisedby IETEand liT Bombay,heldduringDecember27-28,2001at HotelLeRoyalMeridien,Mumbai.

,.Mr M.B.Kakadeof MateriaisScienceDivision,BARC,wasawardedthe secondprizeforthe bestposterpresentationinthe Thirteenth National

Symposiumand WorkshoponThermal Analysis (Thermans

2002) held at Anushaktinagar,Mumbai,duringJanuary21-23,2002.Theawardwasforthepaper,"ThermalDecompositionand Phase EvolutionBehaviourof Precursorsfor YttriumAluminium

Garnet prepared by Solution CombustionTechnique"by M.B.Kakadeand S. Ramanathan,MaterialsScience Division, and B.B. Kalekar,AnalyticalChemistryDivision,BARC.

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