Proposed Idaho nuclear plant to tackle critical shortage of lifesaving medical isotopes

Alternate Energy Holdings, Inc. (PINKSHEETS: AEHI) -- A critical worldwide shortage of nuclear isotopes has forced doctors to forgo lifesaving tests and increased testing cost -- underscoring the need for more nuclear reactors, according to AEHI, which is proposing to build a nuclear plant in Idaho.

"Nuclear power is known as the safest, cleanest form of emission-free low cost base-load energy, but nuclear plants also produce isotopes used in medical procedures," said Don Gillispie, President and CEO, AEHI. "The shortage of isotopes, like the shortage of energy, shows that we have underutilized and underappreciated nuclear power for too long. We see an opportunity to meet a critical need while creating another profit center."

According to The Society of Nuclear Medicine, 91 percent of its members (including doctors and nuclear medicine technicians) at hospitals across the nation reported in a recent survey that they had been affected by the shortage. The survey found 60 percent postponing procedures and 31 percent canceling some.

Dr. Peter Conti at the University of Southern California said, "A prolonged shortage could threaten clinical trials for cancer drugs because patients may not be able to get needed scans." He also said doctors are performing only the most urgent tests.

Gillispie said, "This proposed reactor would install the specialized equipment needed to extract medical isotopes. The U.S. has 104 reactors and it is surprising we do not have our own domestic source of lifesaving nuclear isotopes. The key isotope, molybdenum 99, decays in 67 hours, so it can't be stockpiled."