The Chalk River nuclear reactor, in Ontario, Canada, is finally up and running once again. The reactor, which will turn 53 years old later this year, was shut down May 15, 2009, originally for a month of maintenance. However, the reactor would stay inactive for 15 months as several repairs were made, including a heavy water leak.
The lengthy closure of this facility sent much of the medical world scrambling. The nuclear reactor is responsible for producing a third of the world’s medical isotopes. By closing the production for over a year, the world experienced a global shortage of the important isotopes.
The isotopes produced from the reactor are used in many tests, including those to diagnose cancer and heart ailments. During the 15 months where the isotopes were in short supply, doctors were forced to reschedule procedures and push back treatments. Thankfully now, the reactor is running smoothly and is once again producing the very important medical isotopes.
