Jordan Times
Tuesday, July 27, 2004
No abnormal radiation levels
in Kingdom, Khader reiterates
By Khalid Dalal
AMMAN — Minister of State and Government Spokesperson Asma Khader reiterated
Monday that no abnormal radiation levels were observed or detected in Jordanian
areas close to Israel.
During a joint press conference with two experts on nuclear power and cancer
diseases, Khader said local authorities are conducting round-the-clock measuring
and the results have so far shown that the Kingdom is free from any type of
nuclear radiation or contamination caused by the Israeli Dimona nuclear plant.
According to Director of the Jordan Nuclear Energy Commission Ziad Qudah, the
country has three scientific research centres that continuously monitor and
record any abnormal nuclear radiation levels. “These centres, which conduct
regular tests on air, water and soil samples, have not detected any abnormal
radiation,” he said.
In addition, he said, there are ten early-warning centres to alert authorities
of any unusual radiation levels or nuclear pollution and leakage.
The minister said Jordan is not the only country that should be concerned in
case of an abnormal nuclear radiation as Israel itself and the whole region will
be affected. “This is why we continue to call for a region free of weapons of
mass destruction,” said Khader.
Also, National Cancer Registry Director Samir Kayed confirmed yesterday that the
level of cancer cases in the Kingdom is less than those recorded in Israel and
the US.
“For every 100,000 people in Jordan, around 126 males and 117 females have
cancer,” he said. These figures, he explained, are less than those recorded in
Israel where around 275 males and 265 females out of every 100,000 citizens have
cancer. In the US, the figures are 356 and 287 respectively.
“The Kingdom has less cancer cases because the deadly-disease usually hits
elderly people while the majority of Jordanian people are young,” he said.
According to Kayed, in Tafileh, which is the nearest governorate to Dimona
reactor, 26 out of every 100,000 residents have cancer. Kayed explained that the
rate of cancer is higher in distant governorates such as Irbid in the north,
where 51 out of every 100,000 people have cancer.
However, Kayed did not specify the types of cancer cases in the Kingdom and
whether or not the majority of them are related to nuclear radiation or
pollution.
The officials' comments yesterday were in response to statements made by
Mordechai Vanunu that Jordan should test residents in the border regions with
Israel to be sure that they have not been exposed to any radiation.
Vanunu was speaking to the London-based Al Wassat weekly, published by Al Hayat
newspaper.
Despite Israel's longstanding policy of “strategic ambiguity” on its nuclear
programme and a lack of international monitoring, most foreign experts believe
that the Jewish state has an arsenal of up to 200 nuclear warheads, news reports
said.