India, today is a nuclear weapon State. But the country has always endeavored to apply the benefits of the research in nuclear program for peaceful purposes.

Research reactors of the Bhabha Atomic Research Center (BARC), Apsara, Cirus, Purnima, Dhruva, FBTR and Kamini - routinely produce radio isotopes widely used in health care, industry, crop improvement, agriculture and food preservation.

Kamini, a 30-kwt reactor at the Indira Gandhi Center for Atomic Research at Kalpakkam, primarily intended for providing neutron radiography facilities achieved critically in October 1996 and is a small but significant step towards utilization of our vast throrium reserves. It is the only operating reactor in the world using U-233 fuel.

Research reactors at BARC meet the demand of all radioisotopes other than Cobalt-60, which is produced in power reactors. The commercial aspects of radioisotope production, processing, distribution and sale are looked by the Board of Radiation and Isotope Technology (BRIT) who cater to health care, industry, agriculture and research. The product range includes technetium generators and kits, other phosphorous 32 and sulfur 35 for biotechnology research; radiation sources for radiography, gauging and radiation therapy as well as custom made formulations for research and tracer applications in industry and hydrology.

More than half of all the isotopes produced in India re used for medicinal diagnosis and therapy, either as radiopharmaceuticals or radiation sources. Though Tc-99m is the main workhorse of nuclear medicine practice, 1-131 as sodium iodide is used for the diagnosis of a wide spectrum of thyroid disorders and therapy. We have set up Tc-99m generator fabrication systems in Bangladesh and Syria.

Radio-Immunoassay (RIA) is an important medical application of radioisotopes and there are only 500 RIA labs in India offering RIA services. Radiation Medicine Center, BARC, Mumbai has been the nucleus for the growth of nuclear medicine in India. Intense Co-60 sources ranging from 9000 to 12000 curies encapsulated and supplied by BRIT are being used in most of the 170 eletherapy units set up in 62 cities in India for cancer treatment.

Isotopes in hydrology and industry program provide specialist support to the country’s water resources management effort by the application of nuclear techniques. The range of applications extends from groundwater recharge assessment to the delineation of seepages in dams and canals. India has emerged as a leader with over 30 years of experience in this field.

Using radioactive bromine as methyl bromide, leaks were located in a 11 km buried ethylene gas pipeline near Mumbai. It is estimated that the isotope procedure saved about Rs. 6 lakh in investigation costs alone besides a month’s time in commissioning. The effectiveness of gamma scanning as a powerful tool in examining distillation towers and packed bed columns was demonstrated in a series of studies in petrochemical plants in Mumbai, Vijaipur (Madhya Pradesh) Baroda (Gujarat) and Haldia (West Bengal). These services are now being provided on demand by BARC.

Improvement of crop plants using ionizing radiations is an important application of atomic energy. Genetic improvement of crop plant is a continuous endeavor. Heritable variations occur spontaneously in all living organisms and are largely due to mutations of genes. Radiation induced mutations enhance the range of variability from which plant breeders can select and combine desired characteristics to produce better crop plants.

BARC has so far developed 21 varieties - 9 of pulses, 8 of groundnut, 2 of mustard, 1 each of rice and jute - of improved crop plants and have been released for commercial cultivation. Two varieties of groundnut and one black gram are very popular among farmers.

Extensive research carried out more than three decades at BARC, and other laboratories in India has conclusively demonstrated advantages of food preservation by irradiation. Two research and development irradiation facilities - Food Package Irradiator in Food Technology Division, BARC and another at Defense Laboratory, Jodhpur - have been licensed for irradiating food items. These authorized facilities are now available for irradiation of limited food items for market tests and survey of consumer response.