Ont. nuclear facility can meet isotope demand if needed: AECL
Last Updated: Thursday, August 28, 2008 | 9:35 AM ET
The Canadian Press
Related
External Links
(Note: CBC does not endorse and is not responsible for the content of external sites - links will open in new window)
Atomic Energy of Canada Ltd. says the nuclear reactor at Chalk River, Ont., can meet the country's demand for medical isotopes if required.
A nuclear reactor in the Netherlands that produces some isotopes for medical use in Canada has been temporarily shut down.
All five large reactors around the world that make the isotopes — including the one at Chalk River — are currently offline for unrelated reasons.
About 20 per cent of Canada's medical isotopes come from overseas.
Dale Coffin of the AECL says if a shortfall occurs, the Chalk River facility can ramp up production to meet Canadian needs.
Chalk River, which supplies about 80 per cent of Canada's medical isotopes, is undergoing scheduled maintenance but is expected to be back up and running by Friday night.
Coffin says when the facility goes offline for maintenance, it stockpiles isotopes so they are available until it can restart production.
Share Tools
Top News Headlines
- CP Rail negotiations 'stalled,' union says
- Negotiations between Canadian Pacific Railway Lt. and the union representing 4,800 striking locomotive engineers and conductors have come to a "stall" after the government appointed mediator walked out at 2 p.m. ET, a union spokesman says. more »
- Syria massacre toll up to 108, UN monitor says
- The UN Security Council is holding an emergency meeting Sunday to discuss the recent massacre in the Syrian town of Houla, in which 108 people died, many of them children under the age of 10. more »
- Ryder Hesjedal wins prestigious Giro d'Italia
- Victoria, B.C., native Ryder Hesjedal has become the first Canadian to win one of the cycling world's three Grand Tour events, wrapping up the 2012 Giro d'Italia with an excellent performance in the final stage in Milan. more »
- Neighbour may have helped find missing kids in Mexico
- Two Winnipeg children who had been missing for nearly four years were found in Mexico after a man raised concerns about his neighbour, according to a private investigator. more »
Latest Health News Headlines
- Alcohol addiction team wants higher energy drink prices
- Mixing alcohol with caffeine-rich energy beverages is a trend that is continuing to rise in Canada, despite repeated warnings that the combination is unsafe, a new report warns. more »
- How curry spice helps the immune system kill bacteria
- A spice used in curry dishes helps to prevent infection and now scientists think they've got a lead on how. more »
- Calgary EMS station opens to the public
- Curious Calgarians got a look at a northwest EMS station this morning. more »
- Yellowknife toddlers catching hand, foot and mouth virus
- An outbreak of hand, foot and mouth disease in Yellowknife is causing many toddlers and their parents some major discomfort. more »
FEATURED HEALTH
- Teen struck by lightning in Ottawa dies
- Missing Winnipeg children found in Mexico
- Quebec tornadoes cause millions in damage
- Montreal protesters march in peaceful defiance
- Syria massacre toll up to 108, UN monitor says
- Woman's remains found in hockey bag on Cape Breton river
- Everest team unable to bring down Toronto woman's body
- WWE apologizes to Brazil over Canadian's flag stomp
- Lady Gaga nixes Indonesia show after threats
