Reaction Paper on the Philippine Nuclear Research Institute (PNRI) Fieldtrip

Because of the fieldtrip conducted last Wednesday (October 25, 2017), my curiosity for
the uses and applications of radiation was all the more stirred. The lectures and tours around
the facilities of PNRI instilled contemporary ideas and supplementary information to my prior
knowledge regarding nuclear radiation.

Initially, we were presented with a presentation on the various applications of radiation

and what the facility has to offer. We were then toured around a gamma facility where food such
as Pepper and Lagundi, and even some medical supplies, are sanitized and sterilized. We were
informed that it takes about 3000 Grays to sanitize while 6000 Grays to sterilize. I wasnt
surprised that it takes this much amount of radiation to sanitize and sterilize. Neither was I
surprised that it takes greater amounts of radiation to sterilize than sanitize, since sterilizing
meant killing of all microorganisms and viruses while sanitation meant ridding of germs up to a
certain public safety level. What surprised me though was that both processes actually takes a
lot of time. I initially thought that gamma radiation required only seconds. Apparently, I was
wrong.

The next facility we toured was the electron beam facility. This particular facility uses
higher amounts of radiation about 100 kGy but unlike the gamma, the electron/beta
radiation is less able to penetrate. This ability to be less penetrating allows it to be used for
other applications. I learned that it can be used in crosslinking polymers, as done in tires. It may
also be used in degradation, as in fertilizers, wherein fertilizers are degraded by radiation to
permit higher absorption by plants and thus have a higher yield. In other countries, they employ
this kind of radiation in the treatment of wastewater. Sadly, the technique is not yet employed
here in the Philippines. Adding to my amazement was that this radiation can also be used in the
treatment of jewelries like rubies and topaz. When hit by radiation, these jewelries change color;
and thus one can create different sets of color which could sell at higher prices. I was also
intrigued by the fact that this radiation facility does not take much time unlike the gamma facility.
The electron beam utilizes only minutes or seconds per sample. While not penetrating, the
interaction between the beta particles might produce X-rays which are, in turn, penetrating.
Thus this facility is equipped with shielding.

Jolaine Ashley T. Vallo | 2014-73048

 The third facility we visited was the agriculture section. In this area, we were presented
with products of mutation breeding. At first I thought that this is like creating genetically modified
organisms or GMOs. I was wrong. It was explained that products of mutation breeding are not
considered GMOs. The difference lies in that, in the creation of GMOs, a gene from a foreign
organism is deliberately inserted into the organism you want to modify. In mutation breeding, no
foreign gene is inserted and the mutation is allowed to arise from the organism itself. We were
reminded that mutation is a natural process and thus this makes the products of mutation
breeding different.

After touring the agriculture section, we had a glimpse of the production of Nutribars,
which is a program of the PNRI. These Nutribars could serve as food in times of disasters. I
think it was commendable of PNRI to engage in such programs. I got to try one at the end of the
tour and they tasted really good.

The last facility that was introduced was the Cytogenetic Laboratory. This particular
facility taught me a lot of new ideas. There were four cytogenetic assays introduced: the
dicentric assay, micronucleus assay, premature chromosome condensation (PCC) assay, and
fluorescent in-situ hybridization (FISH) technique. The dicentric assay was used to detect
radiation exposure. It detects abnormal chromosomes with two centromeres. The micronucleus
assay can also detect radiation exposure. However, the micronucleus assay is not specific for
ionizing radiation as it can also detect genotoxicity. The PCC assay is utilized when the
suspected dose is greater than five Grays. Meanwhile the FISH is employed when the exposure
is greater than one year. The FISH technique specifically looks for translocations rather than
dicentrics. Because translocations develop later than dicentrics, this allows FISH to detect past
exposures to radiation.

Overall, my experience at the PNRI was really amazing. It was my first time in a radiation
facility and I learned a lot of new information. Truly, learning should not only be limited to the
four corners of the classroom.

Jolaine Ashley T. Vallo | 2014-73048