China is to launch a nationwide action to register all radiation sources and collect wasted ones to ensure the safe use of nuclear technology, said the national environmental watchdog Monday.

This action followed eight radiation source thefts this year, which lead to panic among local people and economic losses.

Wang Yuqing, deputy director of the State Environmental Protection Administration (SEPA), said the branches of the SEPA, the Health Ministry and the Public Security Ministry will check the production, import and export, sales, storage and disposal of radiation sources, and collect those wasted ones.

Official statistics show that there are over 63,700 radiation sources all over the country, with 30 percent unregistered and 20 percent wasted but not properly disposed. In the past half century, over 1,500 radiological accidents have happened, averaging 30 every year and causing at least eight deaths.

"Losses and thefts of radiation sources account for over 90 percent of these accidents," said Li Ganjie, head of the Nuclear Safety Department of SEPA.

In most cases, radiation sources are lost because of the keepers' outdated safety guarding equipment and loose control at the time of bankruptcy and closing down. Besides, they are often stolen and sold as steel products, Li said.

He said, however, 90 percent lost sources belong to the low radioactive category and will not have permanent injury on human lives.

According to Li, after the action, the SEPA will set up a database for the radiation sources and license the keepers to further make sure the safe civil use of the nuclear technology.

(Xinhua News Agency April 27, 2004)