BY THE MINISTER FOR NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

ND.55

HUGE INCREASE IN DELL&ND FOR I LIEDICAZ RIOIOISOT0PFS

The largest radioactive cobalt source yet prepared bythe

Australian Atomic Energy Commission will be delivered next

month from the Lucas Heights Research .Establishment to the

Rhyal Perth Hospital. The Minister for National Development

(Mr. Swartz) said today that the source material had been

irradiated in the HIFAR reactor at Lucas Heights for a period

of approximately 45 months.

Mr. Swartz said that a phenomenal increase was taking

place in Australian demands for radioactive preparations for

medical purposes, especially for diagnosis. The Commission

opened new radio-chemical laboratories in July, 1967, and had

expected that these would provide sufficient productive capacity

to satisfy Australasian requirements for radiopharmaceutical

products for seven or eight years to come, But already the

limits of capacity had been reached and a substantial enlargement

was being planned.

The source for -the Royal Perth Hospital consists of an

assembly of cobalt discs about 3/4 in. high by 5/8 in. diameter.

Although small in size it will have a radioactivity of nearly

6,500 curies; the largest teletherapy source previously

delivered from Lucas Heights was of 4,200 curies. The source

has been bought by Watson Victor Limited, who are installing

a teletherapy machine for cancer treatment at the hospital.

The cobalt is being transported in a special lead-lined

container w..ighing approximately 2 tons and is being shipped

by sea.

2.

Short-lived radioisotopes. (i.e. those which lose most of

their radioactivity in a few hours), are especially valuable for

.quick positive diagnosis of brain tumours, bone cancer, lung and

liver complaints and other organic diseases. Diagnosis can be

carried out with no discomfort to the patient. At Lucas Heights

a wide range of pharmaceutical preparations is produced daily and

despatched to hospitals in all States. These preparations must

conform to exacting medical standards of purity and sterility, and

the work must be completed to a precise timetable so that each

do3e will be at the correct radioactive strength on reaching

its. destination.

Not only are more and more hospitals introducing these

techniques, but new preparations and methods are being devised,

so that the growth is twofold.

At present the A.A.E.C. is delivering a weekly total of

nearly 1,500 doses of short-lived radiopharmaceuticals for

diagnosis,. Of these, nearly 900 are despatched for use in

major hospital centres in interstate cities other than Sydney.

By 1972, the estimated weekly total will be about 2,700 doses,

and by 1975, it is expected to exceed 3,300. In addition, by 1972, more than 400 doses per week will be going to New Zealand.

"These figures take no account of new products which are

likely to be developed, adding substantially to the total,"

P,3r. Swartz said, "It is clear that the Australian Atomic

Bnergy Commission is already playing an important role in the

fight against disease. Lore than 80% of the radioisotopes

delivered from Lucas Heights are for medical use."

The HlPAR reactor which has been operating continuously

for ten years has been shut down from April 27 to July 24 for

3.

a major overhaul and modifications to improve its operation.

During the shut down some radioactive raw materials, such as

irradiated molybdenum and tellurium, are being flown in from

the U.S.A. for processing into pharmaceutical preparations in

the A.A,E.C. laboratories. Gold seeds and yttrium, used for

surgical implants, are being sent to India for activiation.

With the exception of a few radioisotopes with very short

half— lives, the Commission is maintaining its service to

Australian hospitals.

CANBERRA

28th May, 1970.

