‘Anti-radiation belt’ developed by Israeli firm for nuclear emergencies

Published time: April 09, 2014 19:01

An Israeli company called Stemrad has developed a body belt that protects people from the worst effects of gamma radiation. Called the Stemrad 360 Gamma, the belt could be a lifesaver for the emergency services in a nuclear accident.

Oren Milstein, the co-founder of Stemrad, says it’s partially made out of lead and is designed to first and foremost protect the pelvic area, where most of the body’s renewable bone marrow is made,Reuters reports.

“It may look simplistic on the outside but the structure inside is three-dimensional and very unique. The idea here was to create a product that on the one hand protects but on the other hand is not overburdened by weight,” he said.

Nobel laureates Roger D Kornberg and Michael Levitt are on Stemrad’s scientific advisory board, as they were quickly persuaded of the belt’s merits.

“When I first told about it, I was at first skeptical,” said Kornberg.

At just over 15 kilos, the belt would be wearable for most people. A full body suit to protect all the body’s vital organs such as the liver and thyroid would weigh about 200 kilos, so most people wouldn’t be able to wear it.

FULL STORY: http://rt.com/news/gamma-radiation-nuclear-safety-472/