Water in Philippine City Safe to Drink, Study Using Isotopic Techniques Finds
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From the International Atomic Energy Agency
Isotopic techniques have confirmed that the city water in the water tanks behind these boys, and on many streets in new neighbourhoods in Tacloban, is safe to drink. (Photo: M. Gaspar/IAEA)
Water in Philippine City Safe to Drink, Study Using Isotopic Techniques Finds
Miklos Gaspar, IAEA Office of Public Information and Communication
Tacloban, Philippines – The drinking water of this city of 250,000 is safe, is getting regularly recharged and is not under threat by the sea. Sounds simple? This conclusion took years of research and the analysis of thousands of water samples to establish, and required the use of isotopic techniques by researchers from the Philippine Nuclear Research Institute (PNRI), with support from the IAEA and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO).
When a storm surge caused by Typhoon Haiyan, the strongest tropical storm in the world, devastated much of this city and killed thousands in 2013, local authorities faced the daunting task of reconstruction, including moving people away from the most flood-prone areas. But could the waves that swept away buildings and people have reached the city’s water reservoir?
There was a danger that the storm surge could have contaminated the aquifer – an underground layer of permeable rock containing groundwater – the city’s major water source. Salt and other flood-borne contaminants, including organic matter from animal and human corpses, could have rendered the water unfit for consumption. PRNI turned to the IAEA technical cooperation programme for assistance in the use of isotopic techniques to characterize the aquifer.
Read more at https://www.iaea.org/newscenter/news/water-in-philippine-city-safe-to-drink-study-using-isotopic-techniques-finds
PNRI Features Nuclear Applications at the 2018 National Science and Technology Week
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PNRI Features Nuclear Applications at the 2018 National Science and Technology Week
Featuring the latest innovations in nuclear science and technology through its applications in food, agriculture and radiation safety, the Department of Science and Technology – Philippine Nuclear Research Institute (DOST-PNRI) participates in the celebration of the National Science and Technology Week (NSTW) on July 17 to 21 at the World Trade Center in Pasay City.
With the theme, "Science for the People: Innovation for Collective Prosperity", the 2018 NSTW will feature interactive exhibits divided in four clusters depicting Science, Technology and Innovation (STI) at Home, School, Workplace and Marketplace.
For this year’s celebration, PNRI exhibits several projects and technologies in STI at Home, such as monitoring of radon, a radioactive gas, improved ornamentals through mutation breeding, nuclear analytical techniques for analysis of synthetic acetic acid adulteration in vinegar, and irradiation of burger patties for food safety.
For STI in the Workplace – Farmville, PNRI features its award-winning Carrageenan Plant Growth Promoter as plant food supplement for mungbean that will improve the yield and quality of our food crops. Finally, PNRI also participates in STI in School with two learning stations on radiation detection and cloud chamber experiments, which will be more engaging to students in demystifying nuclear reactions.
Held annually every third week of July, the NSTW aims to recognize the contribution of science and technology in the development of the country and garner support from the public and private institutions for its sustainable development, according to the DOST.
Find out more about PNRI exhibits during the 2018 NSTW at our PNRI Facebook Page:
https://www.facebook.com/pg/PNRIDOST/photos/?tab=album&album_id=660199864325422
President Duterte Visits PNRI at Mindanao NSTW 2018 - Davao
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President Duterte Visits PNRI at Mindanao NSTW 2018 - Davao
During the 2018 Mindanao National Science and Technology Week on July 6, 2018, President Rodrigo Duterte, Representative Karlo Nograles of 1st District, Davao City and Secretary Fortunato de la Peña visited the PNRI booth on the latest applications of nuclear science and technology, as explained by PNRI Director Dr. Carlo Arcilla.
Dr. Arcilla was joined by Atomic Research Division Chief and Career Scientist Dr. Lucille Abad, and Technology Diffusion Division Chief Ms. Ana Elena Conjares.
Among the nuclear science and technology applications featured are the Carrageenan PGP as Plant Food Supplement, PVP Hydrogel Wound Dressings for wounds and bedsores, food irradiation for longer shelf-life and hemostats for wounds and skin openings.
PNRI Researcher Wins 2018 NAST Talent Search for Young Scientists
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Dr. Chitho Feliciano (middle) receives the First Prize Award for the 2018 National Academy of Science and Technology (NAST) Talent Search for Young Scientists, awarded on July 12, 2018 at the Manila Hotel during the NAST 40th Annual Scientific Meeting. He is joined by Department of Science and Technology (DOST) Secretary Fortunato De La Peña (right) and NAST President, Acd. Rhodora Azanza (left).
PNRI Researcher Wins 2018 NAST Talent Search for Young Scientists
For his contribution to the field of radiation biology and nanomedicine research, Dr. Chitho Feliciano of the Department of Science and Technology – Philippine Nuclear Research Institute (DOST – PNRI) recently won the First Prize for the 2018 National Academy of Science and Technology (NAST) Talent Search for Young Scientists.
Dr. Feliciano received the award along with several other outstanding scientists and researchers who won in various categories during the closing of the NAST 40th Annual Scientific Meeting held at the Manila Hotel on July 12, 2018. The award includes a plaque of recognition, cash prize, and research grant from the DOST.
Dr. Feliciano joined the PNRI in 2004 under the Atomic Research Division of the Institute. In 2013, He was awarded with a Japanese Government Ph.D. Scholarship (Monbukagakusho) and finished his doctorate degree in Materials Science with special focus in Radiation Research at the University of Tsukuba, Japan in 2017.
His research projects in radiation biology and nanomedicines aim to improve protection measures against accidental exposure of radiation workers, patients and the general public to ionizing radiation. Many of these projects also won numerous awards in local and international scientific meetings and conferences since 2008. A prolific writer with eleven scientific articles in internationally-indexed peer-reviewed journals, he also served as the editor-in-chief of the Philippine Nuclear Journal, and serves as a reviewer of several international Scopus indexed journals.
Dr. Feliciano currently serves as the Section Head of the PNRI Health Physics Research Section – one of the youngest in the history of the Institute. The section conducts research projects involving radiation biology research and environmental radioactivity monitoring. He is also a regular member of the National Research Council of the Philippines (NRCP), One Expert Philippines and the International Radiation Research Society (RRS).
