The deputy vice chancellor of Adekunle Ajasin Unversity, Akungba Akoko, Ondo State, Isaac Rotimi Ajayi has called on the federal government to empower the Nigerian Nuclear Regulatory Authorities to set up radioactivity measurement laboratories in the 36 states of the federation to monitor radioactivity levels in the environment as well as in foodstuffs and drinking water.
Mr Ajayi, a professor of Radiation and Health Physics, who spoke on Friday at the Inaugural Lecture of the institution, suggested that every hospital or clinic operating any radiological or radiotherapy equipment in the country be mandated to have at least one radiation detection device that could alert of any radiation leakage or pollution.
He warned against exposure of pregnant women to X-ray, except when the health benefits to be derived from it outweigh its risks; and also warned against construction of houses around power lines, cellular base stations, radar installations, telecommunications and broadcast facilities that produce high frequency rays (HFR).
Submitting that the study of physics has helped to improve quality of life, he advised that physics should be recognised as an essential subject in our educational system, while urging all tiers of government to seek advice from physicists and all scientists on matters of science policy and be supportive of the study of physics.
He, however, advised the federal government to aggressively begin to develop human capacity for nuclear power plants for the purpose of electricity generation in the near future.
He also advised government to promote local technologies that minimise equipment emissions.
The university don, who spoke on the topic "Radiation Bombardments on Our Earth: Are We Safe?" said the effects of radiation bombardments include leukaemia, bone cancer, lung cancer, thyroid cancer, cataract, defective or impaired mental and physical development.
"The fact that nuclear accidents do not occur frequently should not make us as individuals and governments to be complacent and assume that it will never happen. The Chernobyl nuclear accident that happened in 1986 in Ukraine, and the recent one in Fukushima, Japan, never warned. They were sudden occurrences," he said.
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