How far can a nuclear watchdog’s remit to protect human health extend? That’s the question raised by the sacking last week of Linda Keen, head of the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission (CNSC).
In November last year, Keen ordered the shutdown of a nuclear reactor at Chalk River, 200 kilometres from Ottawa, after maintenance checks uncovered a safety breach. The reactor is also the world’s largest single supplier of medical isotopes, used in diagnostic tests for conditions such as cancer and heart disease, and the closure caused a worldwide shortage. On 11 December, the government overruled Keen’s decision.
The exact…
