IAEA Supports Advanced Cancer Care through Radium Recycling Initiative

"The process was carried out safely and in compliance with current Guatemalan legislation," said Mayra Villatoro, Director of the Ministry of Energy and Mines. "Some technical and administrative obstacles arose, but they were successfully overcome without endangering people or the environment."

After joining a technical meeting on the initiative in 2023, the Philippines reached an agreement with CNL to transfer 243 radium-containing needles, tubes, cylinders, wires and rods stored in drums at the Philippine Nuclear Research Institute (PNRI). These sources were used in the 1980s and 1990s for medical and industrial applications and will now be recycled into actinium at CNL's facilities. "What was once seen purely as a burden has now become a story of hope," said Ronald Piquero, Senior Science Research Specialist at PNRI. "Transforming radioactive waste into a life-saving resource."

At least five more transfers are planned for 2026. The initiative is also considering additional disused sources, including strontium-90 and caesium-137, for potential future recycling efforts.

"The Global Radium-226 Management Initiative is a remarkable example of international partnership, shared commitment and common values. It offers a strategic opportunity to address a historical challenge while contributing to global health," said Norasalwa Zakaria, Head of the IAEA's Waste Technology Section. "We invite all Member States with legacy radium-226 sources to join this effort. Together, through collaboration and shared responsibility, we can transform a nuclear legacy into a resource that supports cancer treatment and saves lives."