'Cats' eyes' safe: Thai atomic agency

Sat, 15 Nov 1997 | Source: AFP

BANGKOK (AFP): Thai atomic energy officials said yesterday that radioactive gems reportedly circulating in Asian markets were not dangerous as their radiation levels were "natural".

"We do not think that stones with the reported level of radiation that we have seen are dangerous to society," Manoon Aramrattana, deputy secretary-general of the Office of Atomic Energy for Peace, told AFP.

He said some "cats' eyes" stones tested in Bangkok were said to have shown radiation levels of 52 nanoCuries, but insisted such a level posed no peril.

"We are not concerned that this could pose a danger to people as the levels of radioactivity are natural. Radioactivity can be natural depending from where the stone is mined," he said.

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