2008 Woodie Awards
Isotope shortage hits U.S.
Samantha Miller - The Daily Iowan
Issue date: 12/14/07 Section: Metro
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When the world's leading supplier of an indispensable tool in nuclear medicine shut down indefinitely in mid-November, medical professionals at the UI Hospitals and Clinics realized they were a part of a national crisis.
So when the Canadian Parliament stepped in late Tuesday and passed emergency legislation to restart the Ontario reactor - which produces an all-important radioisotope used in a plethora of medical procedures and scans - those in nuclear medicine found a burden lifted.
But they also found renewed hope that American authorities have finally recognized the urgency for the radioisotope's production in the United States.
"This is just astounding news - the best we could have possibly hoped for," said Michael Graham, the director of nuclear medicine in the UI Carver College of Medicine.
It's great news for professionals in the field and their patients, as well as for those who think a domestic supply of molybdenum-99, the raw material used to produce the medical radioisotope technetium-99m, is an essential step in preventing a potential medical disaster such as this from recurring.
"This is just the sort of thing that will increase the pressure on the government to do something," said Graham, who also serves as the Society of Nuclear Medicine's vice-president-elect.
The 50-year-old Canadian reactor was shut down for routine maintenance on Nov. 18 by the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission, said Aurèle Gervais, the commission's media- and community-relations director. The shutdown was unexpectedly extended when license-mandated updates were not completed, he said.
That development left those in the medical community angry and wondering why they had all their radioactive eggs in one faulty basket.
There is not a single U.S. reactor distributing molybdenum-99, and not because nuclear reactors are not capable, said Robert Atcher, the president-elect of the Society of Nuclear Medicine .
It's the money.
So when the Canadian Parliament stepped in late Tuesday and passed emergency legislation to restart the Ontario reactor - which produces an all-important radioisotope used in a plethora of medical procedures and scans - those in nuclear medicine found a burden lifted.
But they also found renewed hope that American authorities have finally recognized the urgency for the radioisotope's production in the United States.
"This is just astounding news - the best we could have possibly hoped for," said Michael Graham, the director of nuclear medicine in the UI Carver College of Medicine.
It's great news for professionals in the field and their patients, as well as for those who think a domestic supply of molybdenum-99, the raw material used to produce the medical radioisotope technetium-99m, is an essential step in preventing a potential medical disaster such as this from recurring.
"This is just the sort of thing that will increase the pressure on the government to do something," said Graham, who also serves as the Society of Nuclear Medicine's vice-president-elect.
The 50-year-old Canadian reactor was shut down for routine maintenance on Nov. 18 by the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission, said Aurèle Gervais, the commission's media- and community-relations director. The shutdown was unexpectedly extended when license-mandated updates were not completed, he said.
That development left those in the medical community angry and wondering why they had all their radioactive eggs in one faulty basket.
There is not a single U.S. reactor distributing molybdenum-99, and not because nuclear reactors are not capable, said Robert Atcher, the president-elect of the Society of Nuclear Medicine .
It's the money.
Viewing Comments 1 - 3 of 3
mark
posted 12/14/07 @ 9:06 AM CST
The Chalk River facility is supposed to be back up and running by Christmas. The United States procures medical isotopes from a couple other places around the world, including South Africa. (Continued…)
mr. f
posted 12/14/07 @ 9:36 AM CST
This is the most comprehensive piece on the subject I've read thus far. It taps into the underlying health issue.
Matt
posted 12/14/07 @ 2:17 PM CST
This is an interesting article but I think it would have been even better had it taken a closer look at the economics of the issue. Although it is repeatedly said that there is not enough money in the production of isotopes for US companies to get involved, the reasons for this are never examined. (Continued…)
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