Global leader in detection technologies helps researchers create new
tests for radiation in water, soil and food, for safety and
decontamination
WALTHAM, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--
PerkinElmer,
Inc. (NYSE: PKI), a global leader focused on improving the health
and safety of people and the environment, today announced the results of
collaborations with Fukushima University and the University of Tokyo, to
develop new radiation detection tests in support of ongoing nuclear
crisis response efforts in Japan.
Immediately after the March earthquake that triggered the radiation
contamination event in Fukushima prefecture, PerkinElmer assembled and
deployed a loan package of sophisticated radiometric detection
instruments and expertise for use by front-line researchers in Japan.
The company provided research teams with critical application knowledge
and technology platforms including Liquid Scintillation Counters, Gamma
Ray Counters, and Mass Spectrometers, for measuring uranium, plutonium,
iodine, cesium and strontium isotopes in soil, water supplies, fish,
vegetables and other produce in affected areas.
In response to concerns from the local community of Fukushima
prefecture, Fukushima University researchers developed the first map of
radioactive contamination immediately after the accident. PerkinElmer
worked closely with Dr. Yoshitaka Takagai, Associate Professor of
Analytical Chemistry in the Division of Environmental System Management,
Faculty of Symbiotic Systems Science, Fukushima University.
According to Dr. Takagai, "Our research team took the initiative to
build the first map of radioactive fallout in response to urgent local
anxiety and demands for assurance, as well as taking on the additional
vital task of detecting soil contamination to guide cleanup efforts.
PerkinElmer technology was instrumental in speeding up the formerly
labor-intensive radiation screening of large volumes of soil samples.
The sensitivity of the instruments also helped in developing protocols
for removing topsoil to ensure effective decontamination of public areas
such as schoolyards and playgrounds."
The Radioisotope Center of University of Tokyo also participated in the
urgent task of determining the scope of contamination in the affected
areas, as well as devising new methods for detecting radiation in soil,
water, and food, to determine their safety and to guide development of
decontamination methods, using PerkinElmer equipment.
Toshiyuki Tadenuma, radiation detector group leader, PerkinElmer,
commented, "PerkinElmer has also deployed these technologies in
collaboration with the National Institute of Health Sciences in Japan,
to create screening methods for testing radiation levels in beef
products in the affected areas, which will be expanded into other food
ingredients."
Robert F. Friel, chairman and chief executive officer of PerkinElmer,
said, "As soon as the crisis became known, we felt a unique
responsibility to offer all possible assistance, as our company has long
been a leader in the specific field of radiometric detection, a
technology that enables critical applications needed by the Japanese
crisis monitoring and remediation teams. We quickly identified the
technologies and applications that would be required, and rapidly
mobilized the needed solutions and expertise to support response
efforts, by offering our people and technologies to aid researchers
leading contamination detection and cleanup activities."
Friel added, "Over the course of the last several months, due to the
strong efforts by the PerkinElmer Japan team and their global
colleagues, we are proud to have been able to assist Fukushima
University and the University of Tokyo in their mission to find and
reduce the effects of radiation and other contaminants resulting from
the March earthquake and tsunami. We look forward to continuing our
support for as long as necessary to help the people of Japan in their
efforts to recover from the crisis."
Directly and indirectly, the use of PerkinElmer equipment by Japanese
researchers in response to the nuclear crisis led to such discoveries as:
-
Determining that uranium and plutonium contamination was extremely
limited, in the vicinity of the reactors, and not widespread
-
While radioactive iodine is completely gone from affected sites, the
bulk of remaining contamination comprises long half-life cesium-134
and -137
-
Cleaning up radioactive soil depends on varied terrain — and requires
different protocols depending on variables such as abundance of site
vegetation, and other related factors
Specific PerkinElmer technology platforms used by the university teams
included:
-
Liquid scintillation counter technology (Tri-Carb®)
used for measurement of radioactive strontium and radioactive hydrogen
(tritium), to locate contamination patterns as well as testing
environmental water samples.
-
Automatic gamma counter technology (WIZARD2®)
used for 270 sample sequential measurement of gamma-ray nuclear
species such as radioactive cesium and iodine, to determine the scope
of contamination in the affected areas, as well as devise new methods
for detecting radiation in soil, water, and food, to determine their
safety as well as to guide development of decontamination methods.
-
Inorganic technology (ELAN®
DRC II ICP-MS) with the necessary broad range of detection limits
required for metal contamination (as well as the presence of uranium
and plutonium) in drinking water, soil, wastewater and food.
To learn more about PerkinElmer's
Japan Rapid Response efforts, please visit www.perkinelmer.com.
About PerkinElmer, Inc.
PerkinElmer, Inc. is a global leader focused on improving the health and
safety of people and the environment. The Company reported revenue of
approximately $1.7 billion in 2010, has about 7,000 employees serving
customers in more than 150 countries, and is a component of the S&P 500
Index. Additional information is available through 1-877-PKI-NYSE, or at www.perkinelmer.com.
PerkinElmer, Inc.
Mario Fante, 781-663-5602
Corporate Public
Relations Manager
mario.fante@perkinelmer.com
or
Edelman
(on behalf of PerkinElmer, Inc.)
Amanda L. Connolly, 404-832-6785
amanda.connolly@edelman.com
Source: PerkinElmer, Inc.
News Provided by Acquire Media