Deputies Investigate Radiation Leakage in Izmir

On Monday, a parliament commission arrived in Izmir province to investigate claims related to high levels of radiation in an old lead factory.

In early December, Nuclear Energy Institute of Turkey detected certain levels of radiation in an old factory yard which caused fears amid the local community in Gaziemir, Izmir. The institute found isotopes of Europium 152 and 154 buried under a temporary storage area in the factory yard.

The investigation was held by deputy commissioners Erol Kaya, Aydın Şengül, Izmir Vice Governor Ardahan Totuk, Gazidemir district governor Şerafettin Tuğ, Urban Planning officer Ata Erpolat and the lead factory owner.

Hürriyet newspaper reported that the institute kept track of radiation levels through an internet database.

"Current radiation level do not cause a public threat," Kaya continued, "We will also keep track of the radiation levels through the nuclear energy institute database. The institute officials also came up with a roadmap on how to get dispose of the waste in the factory yard. We will follow the process. We will also investigated whether there is procedural loophole that caused the incident. We will see whether any juridical implementation is needed." (EA)