Radium action plan
The Federal Office of Public Health (FOPH) has commissioned the University of Bern to conduct a historical search for properties with potential radium contamination from the watchmaking industry. According to the report, radium was used in around 700 properties in Switzerland, mainly in the cantons of Neuchâtel, Bern and Solothurn. In addition, around 300 other properties were identified where the use of radium is unsafe.
In the historical search, with which the FOPH supported the University of Bern as part of the "Radium Action Plan 2015-2019", around 1000 properties were identified, a third of which are located in the canton of Neuchâtel and a third in the canton of Bern. The rest are mainly spread across the canton of Solothurn and the Jura Arc.
Radiation Protection Ordinance from 1963
One aim of the historical search was also to describe the economic and social structure in connection with the watch industry and the use of radium-containing luminous paint between 1910 and 1960. During this period, radium was used for everyday objects, for military instruments in civil and military aviation and also in medicine. In 1963, the first Radiation Protection Ordinance came into force, laying down strict requirements for employee protection. Since then, the FOPH, Suva and the Swiss Armed Forces have carried out targeted campaigns for the collection and disposal of products containing radium.
80 houses still need refurbishment
The FOPH validated the addresses of the properties with the help of the municipalities concerned. In the end, it emerged that around 700 properties need to be systematically checked. For the other properties where the use of radium is unsafe, investigations are underway to find out whether a systematic check is necessary. Of the 700 properties to be inspected, over 400 have already been measured as part of the action plan. 80 of these require refurbishment. In over 50 of these properties, work is underway or has already been completed.
Following the publication in 2014 of a list of properties where the watch industry is working with radium-containing fluorescent paint the Federal Council drew up an action plan to protect the people living in the affected buildings. An evaluation report will be submitted to the Federal Council by the end of 2018.
Text: BAG
