The rare earth refinery owned by Lynas Corp in Gebeng, Malaysia caused further mistrust when the scheduled briefing by the Pahang State Economic Development Corporation was cancelled unceremoniously with just a sign outside the state venue.
Most of the residents felt further anxiety that the government agencies are playing hide-and-seek games and with no transparency. Recent heightened awareness about nuclear radiation, nuclear fallout, toxic waste material has pushed villagers and residents to be more proactive in seeking answers and preventive measures instead of the more lackadaisical attitude and non-confrontational culture of most Malaysians. In a way, residents of various backgrounds and races seem united in this front to get not just answers but accountability and transparency.
Shoddy workmanship, corruption of contracts are far too common and also when disaster strikes, when a building collapses, then only a Commission is set-up or organised to investigate. Now residents want proper deliverance. Not a cover-up after the fact.
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Showing posts with label Radioactive Contaminants. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Radioactive Contaminants. Show all posts
Thursday, April 14, 2011
Tuesday, April 12, 2011
Nicholas Curtis defends radioactive thorium Lynas
Nicholas Curtis, executive chairman of Lynas, maintained that the project in Gebeng, Pahang, Malaysia was entirely safe after several reports and concerns were raised in the aftermath of the nuclear troubles in Japan as well as a landmark case that happened in Perak, Malaysia many years ago that is somewhat related to radioactive contamination and the effects of exposure including leukaemia. Remnants or waste from the processing plant which will include iron phosphorus gymsum contains radioactive thorium compound.
Thorium
Thorium is a component of the magnesium alloy called Mag-Thor, used in aircraft engines and imparting high strength and creep resistance at elevated temperatures. Thoriated magnesium was used to build the CIM-10 Bomarc missile, although concerns about radioactivity have resulted in several missiles being removed from public display.
Thorium is also used as an alloying agent in gas tungsten arc welding (GTAW) to increase the melting temperature of tungsten electrodes and improve arc stability. The electrodes labeled EWTH-1 contain 1% thorium, while the EWTH-2 contain 2%. Thorium is a very effective radiation shield, although it has not been used for this purpose as much as lead or depleted uranium. Thorium is a fertile material for producing nuclear fuel in a breeder reactor. Uranium-thorium age dating has been used to date hominid fossils.
Thorium dioxide is a material for heat-resistant ceramics, e.g., for high-temperature laboratory crucibles. When added to glass, it helps increase refractive index and decrease dispersion. Such glass finds application in high-quality lenses for cameras and scientific instruments.
The radiation from these lenses can self-darken (yellow) them over a period of years and degrade film, but the health risks are minimal.
Read more about thorium here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thorium
Thorium
Thorium is a component of the magnesium alloy called Mag-Thor, used in aircraft engines and imparting high strength and creep resistance at elevated temperatures. Thoriated magnesium was used to build the CIM-10 Bomarc missile, although concerns about radioactivity have resulted in several missiles being removed from public display.
Thorium is also used as an alloying agent in gas tungsten arc welding (GTAW) to increase the melting temperature of tungsten electrodes and improve arc stability. The electrodes labeled EWTH-1 contain 1% thorium, while the EWTH-2 contain 2%. Thorium is a very effective radiation shield, although it has not been used for this purpose as much as lead or depleted uranium. Thorium is a fertile material for producing nuclear fuel in a breeder reactor. Uranium-thorium age dating has been used to date hominid fossils.
Thorium dioxide is a material for heat-resistant ceramics, e.g., for high-temperature laboratory crucibles. When added to glass, it helps increase refractive index and decrease dispersion. Such glass finds application in high-quality lenses for cameras and scientific instruments.
The radiation from these lenses can self-darken (yellow) them over a period of years and degrade film, but the health risks are minimal.
Read more about thorium here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thorium
Thursday, April 7, 2011
Asian Rare Earth Incident Haunts Lynas Expansion Plans
My mother was reading some news and it jolted her she put the news and some memories together. One of her colleague and classmate had a sudden case on leukaemia just barely 2 years out of the teaching college. From a strong, upbeat, intelligent, sporty person, her friend turned into a frail skeletal shelf - as noted by another friend who visited - in Perak just days before she passed away.
And what rings to bell to most people there, is the incident of radioactive contamination by a firm called Asian Rare Earth.
And further news report of a new processing plant of similar sorts by Lynas Corp in Gebeng, Pahang has started a huge awareness campaign. The word "radioactive" has its profile risen incredibly by the nuclear reactor situation in Fukushima. Perhaps not since those atomic bombs, and Chernobyl, Ukraine.
Here is the full story done by New York Times:
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/03/09/business/energy-environment/09rareside.html?_r=1
Excerpts:
"To dispose of the radioactive material, engineers have cut the top off a hill three miles away in a forest reserve, buried the material inside the hill’s core and then entombed it under more than 20 feet of clay and granite."
And what rings to bell to most people there, is the incident of radioactive contamination by a firm called Asian Rare Earth.
And further news report of a new processing plant of similar sorts by Lynas Corp in Gebeng, Pahang has started a huge awareness campaign. The word "radioactive" has its profile risen incredibly by the nuclear reactor situation in Fukushima. Perhaps not since those atomic bombs, and Chernobyl, Ukraine.
Here is the full story done by New York Times:
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/03/09/business/energy-environment/09rareside.html?_r=1
Excerpts:
"To dispose of the radioactive material, engineers have cut the top off a hill three miles away in a forest reserve, buried the material inside the hill’s core and then entombed it under more than 20 feet of clay and granite."
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