Report on Greece. Establishment of an atomic centre

An IAEA mission was informed of the present and planned activities of the Greek AEC at the Democritus Nuclear Centre and outside this Centre, in particular at the Alexandra Hospital in Athens. Created in 1954, the Greek AEC deals with all atomic energy matters in the country, including research, education, safety, isotope applications and prospecting. The main project of the Commission is the establishment of the Democritus Nuclear Centre, which will have a research reactor and a number of supplementary laboratories. Following an agreement with the US Government, a site has been chosen for the Centre on the outskirts of Athens. The reactor will be of the swimming pool type, with a maximum thermal output of 1 mw. The construction of the reactor building is being carried out under the responsibility of the Greek AEC. The laboratories at the Nuclear Centre will consist of buildings for physics, chemistry, technology, biology, a hot laboratory and a decontamination unit. At the time of the mission's visit, the reactor building and a temporary laboratory were under construction. A certain amount of atomic energy research is also carried out at the Physics Institute of the University of Athens. Since 1956, a radioisotope laboratory has been in operation at the Department of Clinical Therapeutics of Athens University; the laboratory is located at the Alexandra Hospital. The members of the IAEA mission discussed the country's needs of technical assistance with the members of the Greek AEC and with its scientific staff. The AEC wishes to ensure the effective execution of their projects for the setting up of a nuclear research centre and for the development of a sound and balanced research programme, as well as for the establishment of adequate health and safety measures in work with ionizing radiations throughout the country. It is also intended to promote the use of radioisotopes in medicine, which is already being done at the Alexandra Hospital. The Greek AEC requested the IAEA to provide them with four experts. One of these experts - a specialist in health physics - will assist the Greek AEC in organizing a health physics department and a central radiation safety service and in preparing a health hazards report for the Greek research reactor. Another expert will be concerned with the medical applications of radioisotopes, particularly in the clinical research field. Routine diagnostic and therapeutic radioisotope services have already been established at the Alexandra Hospital, and the time has come for extending the work to include clinical research on diseases which are common in Greece. The advice of a third expert will be available mainly in connexion with the research programme of the Greek reactor. The fourth expert will advise the Greek AEC on the setting up of the biological laboratory of the Greek Nuclear Centre; he will also assist in developing a work programme and take part in actual research work. The IAEA Board also approved a Greek request for the supply of a small amount of equipment, essential for the work of the experts. Besides, the first medical research contract to be given by IAEA was placed with the Department of Clinical Therapeutics of Athens University for work on the diagnosis of certain diseases with the aid of radioisotopes.