How far can a nuclear watchdog鈥檚 remit to protect human health extend? That鈥檚 the question raised by the sacking last week of Linda Keen, head of the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission (CNSC).
In November last year, Keen ordered the shutdown of a nuclear reactor at Chalk River, 200 kilometres from Ottawa, after maintenance checks uncovered a safety breach. The reactor is also the world鈥檚 largest single supplier of medical isotopes, used in diagnostic tests for conditions such as cancer and heart disease, and the closure caused a worldwide shortage. On 11 December, the government overruled Keen鈥檚 decision.
The exact grounds for Keen鈥檚 removal are not clear, but Gary Lunn, Canada鈥檚 natural resources minister, says she 鈥渨as prepared to put people鈥檚 lives at risk鈥�. The act governing the CNSC appears to cover only the prevention of radioactive exposure, but Lunn wants to add maintenance of the supply of isotopes to CNSC鈥檚 responsibilities. 鈥淲e will be giving a mandate letter to the new person and it will be very clear: the importance of the medical isotopes,鈥� he said last weekend.
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(See 鈥淒on鈥檛 mess with nuclear safety鈥�)
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