AW: [ RadSafe ] " Port gets dirty-bomb detectors "

Tue May 8 13:43:56 CDT 2007

RADSAFErs,

I have a question since months if not years because of these hundreds of
messages on RADSAFE about the prevention of importing dirty bombs, which
might seem provocative, but is intended to be absolutely serious:

Isn't there enough radioactive material in the USA and/or Canada (and any
other one) so that would-be terrorists would not need to smuggle it into
these countries?

Mikes comment seems for me to hit the nail - it is a political issue to tell
the population "We are protecting you!".

Portal monitors are now employed widely in Europe, both in traffic and at
scrap yards, but they are intended to detect orphan radioactive sources in
for instance scrap to prevent Cs-137 incidents like only a few years ago the
one at Algeciras or the contamination by NORM in pipes or other scrap.

I still do not understand, how a nuclear bomb should be detected by the
systems described - I know that there are others which are able to detect
fissionable material. How far should the investigations go? Isn't it enough
that one has to take off the shoes, the belt, to discard all liquids
including tooth paste and medicine by air passengers?

Serious answers welcome.

Best regards,

Franz 

Franz Schoenhofer, PhD
MinRat i.R.
Habicherg. 31/7
A-1160 Wien/Vienna
AUSTRIA

-----Ursprüngliche Nachricht-----
Von: radsafe-bounces at radlab.nl [mailto:radsafe-bounces at radlab.nl] Im Auftrag
von Brennan, Mike (DOH)
Gesendet: Dienstag, 08. Mai 2007 18:11
An: RADSAFE
Betreff: RE: [ RadSafe ] " Port gets dirty-bomb detectors "

Of course, these systems work even better if you don't advertise their
location and how they operate.  But, of course, from a political point
of view, it is more effective to be seen doing something than it is to
not be seen doing something effective. 

-----Original Message-----
From: radsafe-bounces at radlab.nl [mailto:radsafe-bounces at radlab.nl] On
Behalf Of Jaro
Sent: Tuesday, May 08, 2007 4:39 AM
To: multiple cdn; RADSAFE
Subject: [ RadSafe ] " Port gets dirty-bomb detectors "

http://www.canada.com/montrealgazette/news/story.html?id=61bb3880-589c-4
f6f-
a241-04ffc3453532

Port gets dirty-bomb detectors

ANNE SUTHERLAND, The Gazette, May 08, 2007

Two new tools to scan containers that arrive at the Port of Montreal
were unveiled yesterday.

Politicians say the devices will eliminate the chance of ''dirty bombs''
coming into the city.

A dirty bomb is a device that combines radioactive material with
conventional explosives.

Low-level radiation detector portals and a car-mounted X-ray system that
can be driven around a container are now in use at the entryway to the
port and will help fight the war on terrorism, officials said.

Federal Public Safety Minister Stockwell Day and Public Works Michael
Fortier unveiled the two new devices yesterday at the offices of the
Canada Border Services Agency near the Louis-Hippolyte Lafontaine
tunnel.

Each radiation detection portal consists of two panels, four metres high
and separated by the width of a container. All arriving containers are
loaded on a transport truck and driven through the portal. The machine
identifies sources of artificial and natural radiation. Artificially
sourced radiation is associated with nuclear devices.

The radiation detector will not only sniff out bombs, but will identify
the ingredients necessary to make these kinds of bombs. The car-borne
X-ray machine is a second check for any container that emits traces of
artificially sourced radiation.

The Port of Montreal currently has two X-ray equipped vehicles and eight
portal scanners.

These two scanning systems are now in place in Montreal and Saint John,
N.B., and and are in the process of being installed in Vancouver and
Halifax.

The new radiation detection portal devices cost $210,000 each and the
X-ray machines cost $100,000 each, not including the cost of the
vehicle.

The Canada-wide budget for these new systems is $8 million, said Amelie
Morin, spokesperson for the Canada Border Services Agency.

About 1.3 million containers enter and leave the port every year.

asutherland at thegazette.canwest.com

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