• The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and Argentina have signed agreements for peaceful uses of nuclear technology to improve access to cancer care and to combat plastic pollution in Antarctica
• Global annual cancer burden is expected to rise
• Plastic pollution is a global issue that affects even the most remote parts of the globe, including Antarctica

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and Argentina have signed agreements to strengthen their cooperation on the peaceful uses of nuclear technology in order to improve access to cancer care in Latin America and to combat plastic pollution in Antarctica. Rafael Mariano Grossi, Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency, and Santiago Cafiero, Argentina’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, International Trade, and Worship, signed the agreements in support of ‘Rays of Hope’ and ‘NUTEC Plastics’ on Thursday.

According to the American Cancer Society, i.e. Cancer.org, the global annual cancer burden is expected to rise. During 2020, more than 19 million new cases and 10 million deaths were caused by cancer. There will be 30 million new cancer cases and 16 million cancer deaths over the next two decades.

Rays of Hope aims to improve access to cancer care for all by increasing the availability of cancer-related services and equipment that are critical for detecting and curing this disease. Since its inception in February of this year, more than 20 countries have requested assistance through the initiative, which will aid in the provision of life-saving treatment.

FUESMEN is a foundation, founded by Argentina’s National Atomic Energy Commission (CNEA), the National University of Cuyo, and the Mendoza government. FUESMEN is an IAEA partner and a centre for medical care, education, and research. Mr. Grossi went to FUESMEN.

Plastic pollution is one of the world’s most pressing environmental issues today, posing a direct threat to long-term development. According to projections, by 2025, there will be one tonne of plastic for every three tonnes of fish in the ocean, and by 2050, there may be more plastic than fish.

Plastic pollution is a global issue that affects even the most remote parts of the globe, including Antarctica. The first evidence of microplastics in Antarctic snow was recently documented in a study published in June by the University of Canterbury.

NUTEC Plastics (NUclear TEChnology for Controlling Plastic Pollution) assists countries in harnessing environmentally friendly radiation techniques for plastic recycling and using isotopic tracing to better understand the problem of marine microplastic pollution

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