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Delhi High Court considers radiation poisoning of university researcher

“Strontium 90 is a toxic radioactive substance having a half life of about 28 years, a beta rays emitter and is one of the most hazardous products … Which if enters the human body, it accumulates within the bone marrow and over a period of time would cause certain type of cancers/tumors of the bone and of the blood cell….

they mixed the “hazardous and radioactive Strontium in a liquid form in cups of tea which the petitioner used to consume without knowing that those were contaminated.”

Researcher Affected by Radiation: Centre’s Reply Sought http://news.outlookindia.com/items.aspx?artid=769120 PTI | NEW DELHI | JUL 17, 2012 The Delhi High Court today sought the Centre’s response to a plea by a researcher in a Haryana university accusing his guide and other staffers of making him drink tea, laced with radioactive element Strontium 90.

“Issue notice to respondents (Ministry of Health), All India Institute
of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) and BARC for September 13,” said Justice
Rajiv Shakdher, issuing notice on the plea by researcher, who had also
pleaded to be sent to Bhaba Atomic Research Centre (BARC) to ascertain
the extent of radiation suffered by him at his Hissar institute in
Haryana.

In his petition, Devi Deen Pandey said he had been running from one
hospital to another for proper treatment, but without much relief.

Pandey, a post graduate in Environmental Sciences, had joined
Hissar-based Guru Jambheshwar University of Science and Technology at
Hissar, a joint centre of BARC and the Board of Research on Nuclear
Sciences, said the petition filed through advocate Atul Wadera.

The course in-charge did not want Pandey to continue with his research and asked him to leave, said the petition adding they mixed the “hazardous and radioactive Strontium in a liquid form in cups of tea which the petitioner used to consume without knowing that those were contaminated.”

“Strontium 90 is a toxic radioactive substance having a half life of about 28 years, a beta rays emitter and is one of the most hazardous products … Which if enters the human body, it accumulates within the bone marrow and over a period of time would cause certain type of
cancers/tumors of the bone and of the blood cell….,” it said.

The researcher, in his petition, said due to persistent drinking of
contaminated tea unknowingly, he began feeling “uncomfortable” and his
health did not improve despite medication. Later, he knew from some
reliable sources about the radiation suffered by him and “ran from
pillar to post to get the extent of radiation ascertained” at AIIMS
and Tata Memorial Hospital in Mumbai, the petition said.

Later, he realised that “detection of radiation by Strontium 90 (which
emits radioactive beta rays) can only be done in two institutes in the
country and they are BARC and Safety Research Institute Kaltakkam near
Chennai,” said Pandey in his petition.

His earlier attempts to get himself tested at BARC proved futile as as
he did not receive any response to his plea from the Prime Minister’s
Office, which enjoys authority over the premier nuclear institute at
Mumbai, said Pandey in his petition adding that it forced him to knock
at the doors of the high court.

Due to the lack of requisite pathological test, “the petitioner is
losing precious time by the day with the Strontium 90, getting
well-absorbed and deposited in his bone marrow and cortical parts of
bone….,” it said and sought direction to AIIMS and others to start
his treatment.

July 18, 2012 - Posted by Christina Macpherson | India, Legal