Cobalt-60 harvested from four Bruce Power's B reactors will be used to help stop the spread of the deadly Zika Virus.
Cobalt-60 is a key component of the Sterile Insect Technique (SIT) which is aimed at eliminating or suppressing the damaging population of insects.
The product will be processed by Ottawa-based Nordion.
The International Atomic Energy Association will deploy the SIT using gamma radiation from Nordion and Bruce Power Cobalt-60. It is used to sterilize male insects, which are then released in large numbers into the wild, to dramatically reduce the number of insects in the next generation.
With repeated use, it could eventually wipe out the targeted insect population.
SIT poses no risk to public health or the environment.
Cobalt-60 from Bruce B reactors is also used to sterilize 40% of the world's single use medical devices like masks, gloves, and stents.
“Cobalt-60 from our reactors already plays a major role in keeping single-use medical equipment safely sterilized, and with it now helping to stop the spread of deadly diseases like Zika virus, the world’s population continues to benefit from it,” says James Scongack, vice president, corporate affairs. “We look forward to working with Nordion to continue safely harvesting Cobalt-60 during our planned maintenance outages so it can begin saving lives.”
