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SC notices to Centre, States on X-ray radiation
The Supreme Court on Friday issued notices to the Centre, States, Director General of Health Services (DGHS) and Atomic Energy Regulation Board (AERB) on a PIL alleging flagrant violation of the safety code on radiation from X-ray machines jeopardising public health.
The Supreme Court on Friday issued notices to the Centre, States, Director General of Health Services (DGHS) and Atomic Energy Regulation Board (AERB) on a PIL alleging flagrant violation of the safety code on radiation from X-ray machines jeopardising public health.
A Bench comprising Justice G B Pattanaik and Justice N Santosh Hegde issued the notices after hearing counsel Anis Suhrawardy for petitioner J P Sharma, who sought a direction from the court for the implementation of the safety code.
AERB had on December 13, 1986 issued safety code with regard to medical diagnostic X-ray equipment and installations and followed it up with detailed safety measures required to be taken in regard to these machines, the petitioner said. He said due to the wilful breach of these norms by various hospitals and diagnostic clinics, the public is suffering from hazards of emission of radiation from the X-ray machines installed throughout the country. "As per a conservative estimate, over 50,000 diagnostic X-ray units have been installed throughout the country and about 1500 units are added every year," he said.
The petitioner, citing various scientific data, claimed that effect of such radiation would be ionisation of the cells in a human body which could lead to a series of radio-chemical and bio-chemical reactions resulting in or causing grave damage to important bio-molecules such as proteins and DNA. Bureau Report
A Bench comprising Justice G B Pattanaik and Justice N Santosh Hegde issued the notices after hearing counsel Anis Suhrawardy for petitioner J P Sharma, who sought a direction from the court for the implementation of the safety code.
AERB had on December 13, 1986 issued safety code with regard to medical diagnostic X-ray equipment and installations and followed it up with detailed safety measures required to be taken in regard to these machines, the petitioner said. He said due to the wilful breach of these norms by various hospitals and diagnostic clinics, the public is suffering from hazards of emission of radiation from the X-ray machines installed throughout the country. "As per a conservative estimate, over 50,000 diagnostic X-ray units have been installed throughout the country and about 1500 units are added every year," he said.
The petitioner, citing various scientific data, claimed that effect of such radiation would be ionisation of the cells in a human body which could lead to a series of radio-chemical and bio-chemical reactions resulting in or causing grave damage to important bio-molecules such as proteins and DNA. Bureau Report