Nuclear Technology Applications to be Featured in 40th Atomic Energy Week Celebration
- Details
Nuclear science and technology applications in food and agriculture, health and medicine, industry, energy and the environment will be featured in activities during the 40th Atomic Energy Week (AEW) celebration on December 10 to 14, 2012 to be spearheaded by the Department of Science and Technology - Philippine Nuclear Research Institute (DOST-PNRI).
DOST-PNRI Director Dr. Alumanda M. dela Rosa said that this year’s AEW celebration will focus on the theme “Nuclear Science, Technology and Innovation: Engine for Growth and Development”.
The AEW annual celebration, as mandated under Proclamation No. 1211 in 1973, aims to generate awareness of the Filipino people on the beneficial uses of nuclear technology.
The activities slated for the 40th AEW celebration include technical sessions on December 11 and 12; Philippine Nuclear Science Quiz (PNSQ) for high school students on December 13 at SM Mall of Asia; free guided tours to some PNRI research laboratories and service facilities; technical demonstration on radiation shielding materials; viewing of exhibits and film showing on December 11 to 14 at the DOST-PNRI in Diliman, Quezon City.
DOST Secretary Mario G. Montejo is the keynote speaker during the AEW opening ceremonies on December 10. Former Representative of 5th District of Pangasinan Mark Cojuangco will give the keynote speech at the closing ceremonies on December 14 while Representative Julio Ledesma IV, Chairperson of Committee on Science and Technology, House of Representatives, will give the inspirational message.
The topics for the technical sessions include, among others, Energy Situation in the Philippines; Nuclear Energy; The Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty Verification Regime; Technetium-99m Production: Issues and Options; Application of Radioactive and Stable Isotopes in Environmental Forensic Investigation; and Food Traceability and Food Safety through the Use of Nuclear Analytical Techniques. These will be discussed by experts from the Department of Energy, National Power Corporation, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty Organization, International Atomic Energy Agency, and the DOST-PNRI, respectively.
The Philippine Nuclear Science Quiz, hosted by DOST-PNRI in cooperation with DOST Regional Offices and Nido Fortified Science Discovery Center (NFSDC), will be held at NFSDC in SM Mall of Asia, Pasay City. High school students from 11 regions in the country will participate in the semi-final and final rounds of the nuclear quiz. The winning teams in the quiz will receive the following cash prizes: first place – P30, 000; second place- P20, 000; and third place – P10, 000.
The Technetium-99m generator production facility, which was set up by PNRI for local preparation and production of Technetium-99m, will be inaugurated on December 10. Tecnetium-99m is the most commonly-used radioisotope in nuclear medicine for diagnostic and therapeutic purposes.
For more information about the activities for the 40th Atomic Energy Week celebration and for tour reservation, please contact the 2012 AEW Secretariat at 920 8787 and 929 6010 to 19 local 286. (Programme of Activities)
Best Scientific Poster Award to NATA Paper on Black Carbon Profile in Metro Manila
- Details
The paper of Philippine Nuclear Research Institute’s (PNRI) Nuclear Analytical Techniques Application (NATA) Section, Nuclear Services Division on PM2.5 Black Carbon Profile in Metro Manila (Philippines) was adjudged as the Best Scientific Poster for the Climate Science Session during the First National Conference on Research in Climate Change and Variability organized by the National Academy of Science and Technology. The award was given at Traders Hotel on September 27, 2012.
The paper discussed that the PNRI, in the course of its implementation of researches on air pollutant source identification and apportionment using nuclear and related analytical techniques, has also generated profiles of PM2.5 black carbon in sampling sites in Metro Manila since 1998. The results of the studies show that the annual mean values of PM2.5 in the four monitoring sites in Metro Manila and in Angat, Bulacan exceed the United States long-term standard of 15µg m-3 and the World Health Organization guideline value of 10 µg m-3. These results indicate a need to address fine particulate air pollution.
Fine particles are particles less than 2.5 micrometers in diameter (PM2.5) or approximately1/30ththe average width of a human hair. According to the United States Environmental Protection Agency, PM2.5 particles are believed to pose the greatest health risks. Because of their small size, these particles can penetrate into the lungs which can then be readily taken up into the bloodstream. The sources of fine particles include all types of combustion activities such as motor vehicles, power plants and wood burning.
In her congratulatory note to the principal author Preciosa Corazon B. Pabroa, NATA head, and to the other authors, namely Flora L. Santos (retired PNRI Chief Science Research Specialist) and NATA staff Angel T. Bautista VII, Joseph Michael D. Racho, and Ryan P. Morco, PNRI Director Dr. Alumanda M. dela Rosa stated, “let us keep up the good work for excellence and our efforts for our data to be used by the end-user, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources”. (Click here to see the poster)
PNRI Microbiological Laboratory Awarded with ISO 17025:2005 Accreditation
- Details
The Microbiological Laboratory of the Biomedical Research Section (BMR), Atomic Research Division (ARD), Philippine Nuclear Research Institute (PNRI), was awarded with a Certificate of ISO 17025:2005 accreditation on July 08, 2012. The certificate was presented by Mr. Jaime Lasaro L. Olmos, Officer-in-Charge of the Philippine Accreditation Office (PAO), during ceremonies held recently at the PNRI.
This achievement was made possible with assistance from the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) Grants-in-Aid Project, “Establishment, Implementation and Maintenance of Management Systems in all DOST Research and Development Institutes and Regional Offices”. The BMR Laboratory`s accreditation is valid until July 2017, subject to continuing conformity with the ISO technical requirements and PAO conditions for accreditation. The scope covered by the accreditation is “Aerobic Plate Count” in foods and beverages. These include meat and poultry products, cereal and cereal/legume-based products, fruits, vegetables and nuts. The PAO Approved Signatories for microbiological testing are Ms. Zenaida M. De Guzman, Laboratory Manager; Mr. Chitho P. Feliciano, Technical Manager; and Ms. Levelyn Mitos M. Tolentino, Document Custodian.
The BMR is the second PNRI laboratory to gain ISO 17025 accreditation, the first being the Analytical Measurements Research Laboratory, ARD, on July 28, 2009.. The management system developed is applicable to other PNRI testing and calibration laboratories (PNRI LAB) which are also working to gain accreditation. This implies that these laboratories have common PNRI LAB Quality and Procedures Manuals, while maintaining a Procedures Manual specific to each laboratory. It is expected that the accreditation will be expanded to include the following additional scopes: Gafchromic Dosimetry System for the Multipurpose Irradiation Facility; X-Ray Diffraction Spectrometry for the Applied Physics Research Laboratory, Calibration and Personnel Monitoring Services for the Radiation Protection Section, and X-ray Fluorescence Spectrometry for the Analytical Measurements Research Section.
