ANNUAL REPORT

1986

IRAQI ATOMIC ENERGY COMMISSION

PREFACE

This report covers the activities of the Iraqi Atomic Energy Commission (IAEC) in 1986. It marks out the diagnostic uses to which radioisotopes and radiopharmaceuticals were put in 1966 and highlights the research and development work carried out in the fields of radiopharmaceuticals and radioimmunoassays in the same year.

Outlining the efforts made by the IAEC in regard to cooperation with the IAEA and the monitoring of radioactivity after the Chernobyl accident, the report points out the significance of the IAEC participation in convening the Scientific Conference on the Peaceful Uses of Nuclear Energy (Baghdad,1986) and records the progress of work on the nuclear power plant project.

Research abstracts summarizing the work done at the Nuclear Research Centre (NRC) during 1986 in the fields of Agriculture, Biology, Chemistry, Health Physics, Physics and in the production of radioisotopes constitute a major part of this report.

The report ends with yet another UN document condemning the atrocious Israeli air raid on the Tammuz research reactor in Baghdad.

COOPERATION WITH THE IAEA

Cooperation between the Iraqi Atomic Energy Commission and the IAEA has been growing for the last two decades. During 1986, significant progress was made in the following areas:

I. Technical Assistance Projects:

A- Dosimetry and Nuclear Instrumentation Laboratory (IRQ/9/005): Under this on-going multi-year Technical Assistance Project, first approved in 1985, the Agency provided additional expert services together with nuclear electronic and radiation protection equipment, training of personnel,and scientific visits for ours cientists. The project would contribute lo manpower development efforts in radiation protection and health physics.

B - Nuclear power Safety (IRQ/9/004): Under this multi-year Technical Assistance Proiect, originally approved in 1980 and postponed for some time because of the Iraq - Iran war and the Israeli air - attack on the Tammuz Reactor, the IAEC, in cooperation with the IAEA, carried out the following activities in 1966:

1. Evaluation of first stage results and preparation of thesecond stage requirements of the Nuclear Power Plant site selection process

2. Modification of the nuclear safety standards (NUSS -site) to meet the Iraqi conditions

3. Quality assurance requirements during the NPPP site selection process

4. Training and qualification of the IRT-5000 reactoroperators

II. Research Contracts:

A - Production of ^99mTc from Titanium Molybdate by Sublimation

(IAEA Research Contract no 4484/RC).

Within the framework of the IAEA Coordinated Research Programme (CRP) on the " Development of ^99mTc Generators Using Low Power Research Reactors", our Radioisotopes Production Department joined this activity. The aim of this project is to develop an appropnate ^99mTc generator using medium to low specific activity (n, y) - produced ^99mMo and to separale the ^99mTc by sublimation. Research efforts are primarily directed towards the production of the new target material titanium molybdate and the development of a simple, compact and transportable ^99mTc - generator system suitable for safe use in the environment of a radiopharmaceutical hospital unit.

B - Pilot Scale Radiation Disinfestation of Dry Dates with Emphasis on Packaging *

(IAEA Research Contract no 2918/R3/CF)

The aim of this project is the evaluation of insect -proof packages for long term storage of dry dates either irradiated or treated with mild heat (40°C) and 3 doses of gamma radiation. Other aspects have also been studied and they are as follows:

1 Evaluation of trial shipments of packed dry dates, treated with gamma radiation or methyl bromide fumigation

2 Evaluation of the level of dry date infestation by insectsthat survive irradiation doses or combined treatment

3 Investigation of appropriate quantitative and qualitativechemical changes induced in dates by gamma radiation alone or by combined treatment of irradiation plus mild heal

C - Migration and Interaction of Radioactive Waste Radionuclides in major Soils of Iraq

(IAEA Research Contract no 4668/RB)

The project is concerned with the migration behaviour and retention mechanisms of the major waste radionuclides in major soils of Iraq. This study includes extraction, adsorption and fraclionation under various physical and chemical soil conditions. Mobility of radionuclides will be studied under dynamic conditions using nondestructive techniques.

D - Quality Control Scheme for Thyroid - Related Hormones Measured by Radioimmunoassays**

(IAEA Research Contract no 3946/RB)

In Iraq there are 6 main laboratories in which measurement of thyroid hormones is a routine practice, and most of the measurements are of unknown reliability. Furthermore, there is no quality control scheme, which certainly affects the results. The programme will help in better understanding of laboratory problems and, in part, is a trouble - shooting programme

III. Training Courses and Scientific Visits

During 1986, more than 25 personnel attended thetraining courses which were organized by the Agency in various fields of nuclear applications

* An extanded abstract relatad to this proiett appears in tha seclion on Agnculture and Biology

* * An extended research abstract related to this project appears in thasection on Radioisotopes Proctuelion

SCIENTIFIC CONFERENCE ON THE PEACEFUL USES OF ATOMIC ENERGY

To promote the peaceful uses of atomic energy and cooperation between Iraqi scientists and their colleagues from other countries, a conference was held in Baghdad lor the period 14th - 19th, June 1986. This conference was organized by the Iraqi Society of Physics & Mathematics in cooperation with the Union of Arab Physicists and Mathematicians with the support of the Iraqi Atomic Energy Commission.

The programme of the conference concentrated on the applications of atomic energy in nuclear physics, reactor physics, medical and industrial applications of rodioisotopes, and other special topics related to the main theme of the conference such as the accident at the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Station in the USSR.

The conference was attended by about 100 participants from Iraq, 4 from Hungary, the Netherlands, the U.K., and the U.S. A. A total of 40 contributions were presented at the conference. They included 13 invited talks on the following subjects:

1-

(i) Nuclear Analytical Methods.

(ii) Cross - Section Measurements.

2-

(i) Survey of Neutron Activation Analysis.

(ii) Principles of Radiotracer Methods.

3-

(i) Average Resonance as a Speciroscopic Tool.

(ii) Heavy Ion Reactions.

4-

(i) Remarks on Magnetic Monopoles.

(ii) Stopping Power: Theory Review and Applications.

5 - Prospects for Atomic Energy in Iraq.

6 - The Chernobyl Nuclear Power Station Accident.

7 - Some Theoretical Models Used in Nuclear Physics.

8 - Medical Applications of Radioactive Isotopes.

9 - Industrial Applications of Radioactive Isotopes.

In addition, 27 short papers were also presented. During the conference, a scientific exhibition for medical and industrial applications of radioisotopes was held.

THE NUCLEAR POWER PLANT PROJECT

The IAEC signed a contract with the Soviet ATOMENERGOEXPORT early in 1984 for the execution of the first stage of site selection for the construction of a nuclear power station in Iraq. This entailed the compilation and analysis ot available data on six nominated regions in order to select five potential sites, each with an area of 10 x 15km².

The implementation of this contract was completed early in 1986, after the presentation by ATOMENERGOEXPORT of the required reports and results which were thoroughly discussed and agreed upon with the Iraqi specialists assigned to the Nuclear Power Plant Project and the expert assistance of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).

During 1986, concerted efforts by the NPPP specialistsand experts of the IAEA resulted in the preparation of the technical requirements for the second stage of site selection which encompassed the general and specific critena to be adopted, the scope of the technical work, the quality assurance requirements and the format of the required Site Safety Report. The second stage of site selection is supposed to consist of two phases. The first phase aims at carrying out field investigations in the five potential sites in order to identify three candidate sites having an area of 3 x3 km² each and rank thennn order of preference as a main site and two alternative sites. The aim of the second phase is to evaluate the main site and qualify it through intensive field investigations in order to confirm the suitability of the main site in terms of geological, geotechnical, seismological, seismotectonical, hydrological, environmental and other pertinent characteristics, to determine the site's design basis parameters, and to prepare the Site Safety Report.

The implementation of the various activities of the first stage and the preparation for the second stage o1 site selection were carried out in close coordination and cooperation with the IAEA through its Technical Assistance Programme. This involved the participation of several of IAEA's experts in the review and evaluation of the reports of the first stage, in specifying the safety aspects of site selection for the second stage as regards the application of the required site comparison and ranking criteria as well as regulatory requirements, and in developing the NPPP quality assurance programme.