Kuwait: Kuwait is free from radioactive waste, a test of samples of soil, air and water taken from various parts of the country indicates.

“These radiation detectors, which operate around the clock at dozens of observatories and the 12 early warning stations across the country, produced no data of abnormal radiation levels,” Fadhel Ali Ghuloum, director of the Health Ministry’s department on radiation prevention said.

“The daily readings of particle detectors showed no indication of radioactive pollution or harmful substances in the areas allocated for residential or agricultural purposes,” Ghuloum told Kuwait News Agency (Kuna).

Ghuloum said the laboratories of the department on radiation prevention regularly analyse the air, soil and water samples on daily and weekly bases to verify that they are free from any pollutants.

Last year, the labs of the department tested 2,282 potable water samples, 754 foodstuff samples, 267 environmental samples, 92 air samples and 70 well water samples. All tests were negative for radiation.

The Ministry of Health tasked the company that operates the early warning stations to upgrade them in keeping with the world’s latest standards and technological advances, Ghuloom said.

The ministry set out a nine-point plan for upgrading the protection against radioactivity in collaboration with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).

They include modernising the infrastructure, policies and legislations relating to nuclear security at a time which Kuwait and other neighboring countries seek to build nuclear reactors for peaceful purposes.

The plan also envisages building new premises for the department on radiation prevention which has 110 staffers, 90 per cent of whom are Kuwaitis, Ghuloum said.

Regarding the ministry’s potassium iodide stock, he said: “We have 60 million tablets which can cover the needs of the total population of the country for two weeks at a rate of one tablet for each citizen or resident a day,” Kuna reported on Saturday.

“This substance is used for emergency purposes relating to blockade of radioiodine uptake — a common form of radiation poisoning due to environmental contamination. Potassium iodide may be used as a treatment for thyroid storm — a life-threatening complication of hyperthyroidism,” Ghuloum said.

The ministry ensured an annual increase in the potassium iodide stock by four per cent.

“The Ministry has laid down an emergency plan for the distribution of potassium iodide tablets among all residents within one day in case of any radiation poisoning in collaboration with all relevant authorities, including the General Department of Civil Defence [GDCD],” he said.

“The higher emergency commission, chaired by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior, and the expediency team — made up of 16 government bodies under the umbrella of the GDCD, are tasked with rapid intervention to address any nuclear or radiation incidents,” he said.

On cooperation with other Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) member states in this regard, Ghloum said the countries agreed to launch a regional centre for crisis management early warning to respond to any radia-tion eventuality. The countries will also share information and offer help in such cases.

He noted that his department was working with regional and international agencies, including the IAEA, in training personnel at radiation detection stations and comparing results of lab tests.

Ghuloum refuted allegations about the existence of depleted uranium-contaminated vehicles in Kuwait, saying that the country got rid of 200 tanks and military vehicles for the same reason several years ago.

“The department on radiation prevention maintains close cooperation with Kuwait General Administration of Customs and both sides inked an MoU on barring the entry of any radioactive materials into the country.

“As part of this cooperation, the department fixed radiation detectors at the northern Al Abdali border crossing after reports in mid-February that radioactive material went missing in Iraq late last year,” he said.

Ghuloum said the inspectors of the ministry in 2015 conducted hundreds of surprise inspection visits to the government, non-government hospitals, medical centres and clinics countrywide and inspected sites of oil exploration and water wells.

The ministry issued licences for public and private hospitals to acquire 231 imported X-ray devices and 117 radioactive substances for medical purposes in addition to 452 licences for individuals and 210 renewed licences last year, he said.