P5 Statement on the release of xenon gas into the environment
P5 Statement for 2015 Non-Proliferation Treaty Review Conference on Minimizing the Impact of Medical Isotope Production.
The P5 nations (People’s Republic of China, France, Russian Federation, United Kingdom, United States) issued a joint statement after the conclusion of the P5 London Conference. The Conference took place in London, 4-5 February, 2015.
The P5 recognise that while medical isotope production is a critically important activity and while the objective of ensuring the security of supply of medical radioisotopes is of utmost importance, they share a common interest in minimizing the interference of xenon radioisotope releases with global radioactive monitoring activity.The P5 believe that all States should engage with producers in their regions to assess the amount of emissions and to reduce where it is possible their negative impact on the environment through minimization of emissions from fission-based medical isotope production.
Further, the P5 advocate that the CTBTO Executive Secretary continue working actively with interested States, other relevant international organizations, and with radioisotope production facilities to minimize where it is possible the impact from the release of xenon radioisotopes.
Activities that the P5 support include the series of Workshops on the Signatures of Medical and Industrial Isotope Production (WOSMIP), and an IAEA Coordinated Research Project (CRP) ‘Sharing and Developing Protocols to Further Minimize Radioactive Gaseous Releases to the Environment in the Manufacture of Medical Radioisotopes, as Good Manufacture Practices’.