 "Indonesia probes metal factory after radioactive contamination prompts global product recalls – Firstpost")
Indonesia has launched a criminal investigation into the suspected source of radioactive contamination that led to the recall of exports of shrimp and spices to the United States and sneakers to the Netherlands, officials said Wednesday.
Indonesian authorities have launched a criminal investigation into the suspected source of radioactive contamination, which has led to the recall of shrimp and spices exported to the United States as well as sneakers sent to the Netherlands, officials said Wednesday.
The investigation focuses on a metal-processing facility in the Sikande Industrial Estate in Banten province of Java. Investigators believe the smelting company, PT Peter Metal Technology, is owned by Chinese interests.
“Police have launched a criminal investigation,” said Bara Hasibuan, spokesman for the task force leading the investigation.
The presence of cesium-137 was first flagged earlier this year when Dutch authorities reported traces of radiation in an Indonesian shipment. The report said several boxes of sneakers were found contaminated.
In August, after cesium 137 was found in shipping containers destined for US ports, the US Food and Drug Administration issued a safety alert warning consumers not to eat some frozen shrimp imported from PT Bahari Makmur Sejati, a company doing industrial estate business as BMS Foods.
Officials say that about 20 factories are connected to it. Sikande Industrial sectors were affected by the pollution, including shrimp-processing units and footwear manufacturers. Nine workers at the estate were found to be exposed to cesium-137.
The workers were treated at a government hospital in Jakarta, and officials say all contaminated sites within the industrial zone have since been decommissioned.
According to the FDA, repeated exposure to low doses of cesium-137 may increase long-term health risks, but the levels found in the Indonesian exports did not pose any immediate threat.
Indonesia’s investigation has been hampered by the absence of PT Peter Metal Technology’s management. company officers Which recycles scrap metal into steel rods – China, has returned to Setia diartaThe director general of metals, machinery, transport equipment and electronics at the industry ministry told lawmakers earlier this month.
Indonesian officials say they are preventing items contaminated with cesium 137 from entering Indonesia.
Port authorities earlier this month intercepted eight containers of zinc powder arriving from Angola that were contaminated. The containers are being held until the administrative process for re-export is completed.
with inputs from agencies
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