GRAPF

1. SAFETY AND REGULATORY
ASPECTS OF GAMMA
RADIATION PROCESSING
PLANTS (GRAPP) IN INDIA
RADIOLOGICAL SAFETY DIVISION
ATOMIC ENERGY REGULATORY BOARD, MUMBAI

2. OVERVIEW
APPLICATIONS OF GRAPF
DESIGN and SAFETY
REGULATORY ASPECTS
DISCUSSION

3. RADIATION PROCESSING PLANT
FACILITY WHEREIN A PRESCIBED DOSE
OF RADIATION ENERGY, EMANATED
FROM A SOURCE OF IONISING
RADIATION IS DELIVERED TO THE
PRODUCT FOR A SPECIFIC PURPOSE,
WHILE PROTECTING ADEQUATELY THE
PLANT PERSONNEL, PUBLIC AND THE
ENVIRONMENT.

4. RADIATION SOURCES
Cobalt-60 ( 1.17 & 1.33 MeV)
Caesium-137 ( 0.66 MeV)
Electron beam, energy less than 10 MeV
X-rays generated from machine sources
operated at or below an energy level of
7.5 MeV.

5. RADIATION PROCESSING PLANTS (GRAPF) UNDER
SURVEILLANCE OF AERB
A) GAMMA RADIATION PROCESSING
PLANTS (GRPPs) :
OPERATIONAL : 30
B) GAMMA IRRADIATION CHAMBERS (GIC)
: 135

6. APPLICATIONS OF GRAPP
Sterilization of medical products
(Sterility Assurance Level 10-6)
- Surgical Disposables : Bandages, Dressing, Delivery kits etc.
- Metallic Products : Surgical Blades, Needles, Aluminum caps
- Plastic & Rubber Items: Petri-dish, Centrifuge Tube, Rubber
Gloves, Wrap caovers etc.
- Pharmaceuticals: Silver Sulphadiazene Cream, Geletine
capsule, Opthalmic preparation, Skin oinments
- Ayurvedic Products : Herbs, Raw material, Medicines

7. APPLICATIONS OF GRAPP
Food processing
Low Dose Applications
Medium Dose Applications
Benefits:
- Insect disinfestations, Sprout inhibition,
Maturation delay, Extension of shelf life
(Low dose <1 kGy)
- Reduction in food-borne diseases, Reduction
of spoilage microorganisms
(Medium dose 1-10 kGy)

8. Commodity Radiation Dose (kGy)
Potato 0.06 0.15
Onion 0.03 0.09
Shallots 0.03 0.15
Garlic 0.03 0.15
Ginger 0.03 0.15
Low Dose Applications
R&D – 1950- 60
Large Scale Trials
with NHRDF – 1978 / 1981-82 / 2002
PFA Approval – 1994

9. Commodity Dose (kGy)
Mango 0.25 0.75
R&D – 1960 –1975
PFA Approval - 1998
Low Dose Applications

10. Quarantine
Export of fresh mango to U.S.A.,
Australia and Japan was not
permitted till 2007
Irradiation at 150 Gy is effective
against fruit flies (Dacus dorsalis
and D. cucurbitae) while a dose of
300 Gy can prevent the pupae of
seed weevil (Cryptorynchus
mangifera) into adults and adults if
present are rendered sterile

11. •Opening of Markets in USA
•Australia & New Zealand are
likely to be opened
400 Gy Dose approved for
quarantine of mangoes

12. Commodity Dose (kGy)
Rice 0.25 1.0
Sooji/Rawa/Atta
Maida
0.03 0.09
Pulses 0.25 1.0
Dried Seafoods 0.25 1.0
Raisins,Dried Figs, Dates 0.03 0.15
Low Dose Applications
R&D – 1960 –1980
Large Scale Trials with FCI– 1975
PFA Approval – 1998 / 2001

13. Commodity Dose (kGy)
Meat & Meat Products
including Chicken
2.5 4.0
Spices 6.0 14.0
Fresh Seafood 1.0 3.0
Frozen Seafood 4.0 6.0
Medium Dose Applications
R&D 1975 – 1985
Collaborative Studies on Spices- 1987
PFA Approval – 1994 / 1998/ 2001

14. Disinfestation of Legumes & Pulses

15. Disinfestation Of Rice

16. Raspberries
Control vs. Irradiated samples 41 days after
storage at 0C (32F).
0.50kGy
Control

17. Blackberries
0.50kGy
Control
Control vs. Irradiated samples 41 days after storage at 0C (32F).

18. Tomatoes
Control compared to tomatoes irradiated at 1.0 kgy at 10 days

19. Mushrooms
Control compared to irradiated (1.0 kGy) mushrooms at 30 days
(Control was not edible at 12 days; Irradiated sample edible at 30 days)

20. Disinfestation of dried fish

21. Extension of shelf life of
chilled meat
Radapperisation –shelf stable meat
Frozen fish for export

22. Additional Applications
Natural rubber latex vulcanization
Waste water treatment
Coloring of diamonds & gemstones
Polymer modifications- cross linking

23. Hevea (brasiliensis)
Natural Rubber Latex Vulcanization

24. Natural Rubber Latex Vulcanization
Alternate Process for Vulcanization by Sulpher
Increase tensile strength, mechanical strength
Better resistance to degradation
Absence of nitrosamines, Very low cytotoxicity
Lower protein allerginicity
Space and energy saving in the latex
processing unit
No emission of SO2 and reduced formation of
ashes when burned

26. Products attempted from RVNRL

27. BLOOD IRRADIATION
TA-GVHD : Transfusion Graft versus Host Disease
Occurs in immunosuppressed patients
Rare but occurrence commoner where fresh blood, donations from
relatives, or where there is a restricted genetic pool i.e. Japan
Viable donor T-lymphocytes proliferate and engraft in susceptible
individuals after transfusion
Irradiation cellular blood products:Bloods, Platelets, Buffy coat and fresh
plasma
Dose : 15-50 Gy

28. Advantage of Radiation Processing of Food
Physical Non-additive Process causing
minimal changes in food
Highly effective
Eco-friendly and residue-free process
Applied to pre-packed food
Preserves food in natural form
Cold Process
Safe to Workers