Säteilyturvakeskus (STUK) in Finland: Amateurish radiation protection

In the past, on several occasions, I wrote about the amateurish conduct of STUK experts, those responsible for protecting Finns from the dangers of radiation, any radiation. Links to these posts are here:

• STUK in Finland: How trustworthy is information on smart phones and… nuclear power plants…
• August 10, 2015 — Finland’s STUK is hiding important radiation exposure information from the general public, the Government and the Parliament. What else is being hidden by the arbitrary decisions of STUK staff? How comprehensive and trustworthy is the information we, the general public, … Continue reading →
• Untruthful statement from Director General of Finland’s STUK: Scientific arrogance or incompetence?
• April 20, 2015 — On June 18, 2014, was posted BRHP blog “STUK in Finland misinforms the Government, Parliamentarians and the general public”. In this posts I criticized STUK for providing false information on radiation exposures caused by the ‘smart’ phones: “The experts form … Continue reading →
• STUK in Finland misinforms the Government, Parliamentarians and the general public
• June 18, 2014 — STUK in Finland provides outdated information about cell phone exposures. Is this just the lack of the knowledge or negligence or ignorance or something else…? Finland’s Radiation and Nuclear … Continue reading →
• STUK and Finland, where only a single opinion is permitted…
• May 9, 2014 — This post was updated on May 15, 2014… European Union is in an economic crisis. In Finland, the official (=government) opinion is that the one and the only way to survive is to remain in EU and retain common currency. … Continue reading →
• STUK in Finland skews public debate on science
• February 12, 2014 — Health effects of cell phone radiation is a very controversial topic. On the one hand there are scientists and lay people concerned that radiation affects health in a variety of manners. On the other hand there are scientists and lay … Continue reading →
• Censorship of science at STUK/Finland – Ministry doesn’t care…
• January 30, 2014 — The last day of 2013 was my last day of work at STUK – Radiation and Nuclear Safety Authority in Helsinki, Finland. I came to STUK nearly 22 years ago, in February … Continue reading →

Recently, was again revealed how amateurish the STUK experts are.

Last week, on March 3^rd – 4^th, 2016, STUK measured exceptionally high levels of cesium-137 in air in Helsinki. Levels were significantly higher than normal, though, relatively safe for the health of general population. On March 7^th, 2016, STUK issued press release informing about this exceptional measurement. To make the story short, the source of the cesium-137 was found to be the company handling demolition of the old radiation equipment, business off-shot from STUK, Suomen Nukliditekniikka Oy, located in the same premises as STUK.

So far so good. Tiny amount of cesium-137 was detected showing that the measuring equipment is sensitive and in working order. The amount of cesium-137 detected was not harmful for health.

But there is a big problem, showing lack of professionalism on behalf of STUK.

How it is possible that nobody predicted, or nobody cared enough, to consider that locating very sensitive measuring equipment in the same premises as the company handling demolition of the old radiation-emitting equipment, may compromise measurements of airborne radiation.

The consequences of such unprofessional shortsightedness were expensive (how much?) as some 20 persons for several days were looking for the radiation source and who are still involved in clean-up of the contaminated parts of STUK building. This “measurement mess” was easily avoidable by using a simple logic and a precaution – do not locate sensitive measuring equipment in the same premises where the old radiation equipment is being demolished and may accidentally contaminate the building, causing false alarm for the whole of Finland.

However, there is more. Namely, how reliable is the radiation protection of Finns by experts of STUK, making such amateurish mistakes… and… the same persons, responsible for the amateurish conduct, repeat and repeat again… And this is not the first time. The contamination of STUK premises happened already earlier, with plutonium…

From the past experiences with STUK managerial culture, coming from my 22 years of work there, most likely nobody outside of STUK will care and the whole responsibility for such amateurish conduct will be brushed under the rug…

Until the next time…