In September 2024, a team was dispatched to handle a serious situation involving two barrels of radium-226 abandoned at a facility operated by Fiji’s Ministry of Health. This radioactive substance, which has a half-life of around 1,600 years, carries significant health risks if inhaled, ingested, or encountered through long-term exposure.
The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) responded to the discovery and found that these barrels had been improperly stored outdoors for nearly a decade, experiencing significant corrosion. Fortunately, the radioactive materials were intact, facilitating a safe recovery operation.
The IAEA collaborated with the American pharmaceutical firm Niowave to secure and transport the radium-226 out of Fiji as part of the IAEA’s Global Radium Management Initiative, which focuses on responsibly managing obsolete medical isotopes historically utilized in cancer treatments, particularly in brachytherapy.
Due to the barrels being located in a roofless structure, detailed assessments were necessary to ensure safe radiation exposure levels during the recovery. Specialized equipment was employed to measure the radiation on the barrels before safely repackaging the material into a transport container supplied by Niowave.
After completing the careful repackaging, the transport container was sent to a secure storage facility overseen by the Ministry of Health in Suva. The radium-226 is set for shipment to the United States, where it will be recycled into actinium-225, a promising isotope increasingly used in targeted cancer therapies.
Fiji’s Ministry of Health acknowledges the historical importance of radium-226 in cancer treatment and highlights the crucial need for ensuring the safe management of such materials. This operation represents a vital advancement in the safe handling of radioactive substances and underscores Fiji’s commitment to health and safety standards, while also fostering international cooperation in public health initiatives. The repurposing of these isotopes not only resolves immediate safety issues but also enhances potential treatment options for patients, reflecting a hopeful advancement in cancer therapy.
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