DENIAL OF SHIPMENT | TRANSPORTATION


Above: Nuclear Transport Solutions (NTS) has become the first nuclear transport operator in the world to install sail technology Source: CDFmedia.co.uk


Radiopharmaceuticals and timely transport Although all discussed applications of radioactive materials have beneficial impacts on our lives, it is particularly important to mention radiopharmaceuticals. Radiopharmaceuticals are specialised drugs that contain radioisotopes used in the diagnosis and treatment of many different medical conditions. Different types of isotopes are used to diagnose or treat different conditions, and these radiopharmaceuticals are designed such that they travel to the specific part of the body where the target organ or tissue is located. The radiopharmaceuticals can be administered by either injection or taken orally. In many cases, the radioisotope used has a very short half-life. This is to ensure that the radioisotope will decay away soon after the drug has been administered to a patient. These medical procedures are widely accepted practices


today. According to the World Nuclear Association (WNA), there are over 50 million nuclear medicine procedures performed each year, and demand for radioisotopes is increasing. Radiopharmaceuticals are used in over 10,000 hospitals worldwide, but the necessary isotopes are not produced in many countries. This necessitates the transport of these radioactive materials. With a short half-life, the rapid transport of these drugs is vital to ensure that they are still useful when they reach the hospital and are used. Simply put, if a radiopharmaceutical does not reach a patient within its useful shelf life, the patient will go untreated. When radiopharmaceuticals are transported, the


producers will seek to send them by the most direct and rapid routes to maximise their useful life. Unfortunately, there are often barriers that can make route planning difficult. These barriers are referred to as Denials or Delays of Radioactive Materials.


Denial of shipment Some shipping companies and airlines simply refuse to carry radioactive material as a policy decision. This may be because the carriage of radioactive material is seen as too troublesome, with a small return on investment when compared to other freight that is carried in much higher volumes. Cargo handlers and those responsible for the safety of these materials during transport often need to have additional training which introduces a cost consideration. Without a basic understanding of these materials some personnel are apprehensive about handling packages containing radioactive material. There are also requirements that apply to the safe


and secure storage of radioactive material when being transported, and when transiting ports and airports. This can put a strain on facilities that have limited space and resources. These are all factors that need to be considered by carriers and at transit points when deciding whether to support the transport of radioactive material. However, for those ports, airports, and carriers that do permit the carriage of radioactive material, the returns can often be very good for a cargo that is actually very easy and safe to handle.


Some governments have introduced legislation that


prevents or restricts the transport of radioactive material into or through their ports. Not only does this affect those countries, but it will also impact shipments destined to other countries when it is being carried as part of a multiport voyage or requires transhipment to a regional or national carrier. It is not always clear why these restrictions have been put in place, but it could include a response to public pressure. There is, unfortunately, a lot of misinformation that can generate undue concern among communities


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