Tunis — Findings of the radioactivity test carried out at the Ben Ghilouf site in El-Hamma, Gabes governorate, last May 8-9, following rumours on nuclear waste yard in the region, were presented at a news conference held, on Wednesday in Tunis.

"Following the identification of radio-nuclides and their quantitative measurement in the laboratories of the National Centre of Nuclear Sciences and Technologies (CNSTN), we came to the conclusion that the radioactivity rates in Ben Ghilouf are of an acceptable level, both to the background natural noise and the areas near hot springs of over 1,500 meter-depth," CNSTN Director Azza Hamou specified.

At the same time, the test proved lack of artificial radio-elements and showed that the slightly high level of natural radioactivity because of waste does not represent a danger on the local inhabitants' health.

It is worth recalling that this investigation was conducted by CNSTN and the National Centre of Protection against Radiation following the spread on social networks of a rumour about the presence of nuclear waste in Ben Ghilouf around the Gib Eddoukhane geothermal water coolers area.