LOKET RADIOAKTIF BERBAHAYA

LOKET RADIOAKTIF BERBAHAYA

Harmful radioactive pendants

In 2010, CAP had raised our concern on the effects of radioactive or scalar energy pendants being sold by direct-sales companies. CAP brought this matter to the attention of the Ministry of Health (MOH) and Atomic Energy Licensing Board (AELB) after receiving a complaint from a consumer.

After conducting tests on the pendants, the AELB earlier this year informed the Ministry of Health that the Board has decided to ban the use of Quantum Pendant (Fusionexcel) and SE Pendant (Cosway). This is because it has found that the radiation dose rate at the surface of the pendant is higher than that permitted for the public.

Analysis results by AELB revealed that the radioactivity concentrations of radioactive thorium-232 and uranium-238 in the pendants were above the permissible level. A MOH representative had also informed the Board that there is no scientific evidence to show that use of these pendants is beneficial to the health of the wearer as claimed. Among the claims are the pendant will help increase and improve blood circulation, increase a person’s energy, increases alertness and concentration, etc.

The AELB’s decision to ban the use of these pendants is in line with Regulation 4(1) of the Atomic Energy Licensing (Basic Safety Radiation Protection) Regulations 2010 which prohibits anyone from carrying out or cause to be carried out any practice unless that practice is justified.

A similar ban on a pendant with enhanced level of radioactivity, "SE Pendant 0352", was imposed by the authorities in Hong Kong in 2009. According to the Department of Health of Hong Kong, short term contact with the pendant would not result in immediate effect to health. As the radiation dose from a single pendant may reach 50% - 60% of the annual skin dose limit recommended by the International Commission on Radiological Protection, year-long contact with the pendant may result in erythema of the skin in some individuals. The risk of skin cancer also increases with the duration of contact.

There is no safe level of exposure to radioactivity. Even the smallest exposure has some probability of causing a stochastic effect. Stochastic effects are those that occur by chance and consist primarily of cancer and genetic effects. Stochastic effects often show up years after exposure. As the dose to an individual increases, the probability that cancer or a genetic effect will occur also increases. Thus the principal concern from low to moderate level exposure to ionizing radiation such as from the scalar energy pendant is increased risk of cancer.

According to Malaysia’s Director General of the AELB, these radioactive pendants have been in the Malaysian market since 2009 and there has been no specific control on its use by the relevant authority. AELB is of the view that the sale and use of these products should be stopped at once.

However, CAP found that these radioactive pendants are still being sold. Recently, we had received a complaint that a Kepala Batas based direct sales company was selling it. The website of Cosway is still marketing the SE Pendant.

We are concerned that the Ministry of Health has failed to monitor the sale of these harmful pendants in the Malaysian market. The Ministry of Domestic Trade, Co-operatives and Consumerism should take action against the direct sales companies that have used their licences as a cover to sell these products to innocent consumers through false claims.

If any criminal offence has been committed by the importers and distributors of these pendants, stringent action must be taken against them. Meanwhile, all stocks of these pendants should be seized and handed to the AELB for safekeeping and handling.
CAP calls on the Ministry of Health to immediately ban the sale and use on these radioactive pendants and take legal action against those who brought this product into the country.

Press Statement - 5 September 2012