recent string of radioactive contamination cases in several regions has prompted calls for greater oversight on imported scrap metal, a high-demand commodity with irradiated traces that may pollute the environment and harm the public.
More than 450,000 tonnes of scrap metal have been imported to Indonesia so far this year, according to data from the United Nations Commodity Trade Statistics Database (UN Comtrade), totaling nearly US$161 million of revenue mostly generated from Japan, Australia and China.
Scrap metal is often used as raw material for recycling in manufacturing, construction and steel and aluminum production industries. It is often seen as a cheaper alternative to newly-mined iron ore.
But unchecked scrap metal, which can contain invisible particles barred from entering the country, has been under the spotlight following the recent discovery of Cesium-137 (Cs-137) radioactive contamination in an industrial area in Cikande village, Serang, Banten. Some of the radioactive materials, believed to be sourced from scrap metal stored in a warehouse, were also found in shrimp products exported to the United States.
Ongoing investigation by a special task force under the Coordinating Food Ministry found the Cs-137 contamination spread through airborne dust produced during the scrap metal melting process in a smelting plant owned by PT Peter Metal Technology (PMT) and reached nearby factories.
Short-term exposure to Cs-137, a nuclear reaction byproduct, can cause symptoms such as diarrhea and headaches, among other symptoms. Prolonged exposure to high-intensity of the material may pose more serious health impacts, such as increased risks of cancer and organ damage.
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