Health Physics Society, Radiation Specialists Supports Radioactive Source Legislation

[sandyfl@EARTHLINK.NET]

Health Physics Society Press Release:



PROFESSIONAL SOCIETY OF RADIATION SPECIALISTS SUPPORTS RADIOACTIVE 

SOURCE LEGISLATION



Radiological dispersion devices (RDDs - informally known as "dirty 

bombs") are conventional explosive devices incorporating radioactive 

materials.  They are designed to produce radioactive contamination 

and to instill panic in the population, relying on fear of radiation 

to induce irrational and dangerous reactions in the general public.  

These devices may also release enough radioactive contamination that 

relatively large areas may be unavailable for use by the general 

public until they can be decontaminated.  A logical source of 

radioactive materials for such devices is orphan sources; radioactive 

sources that have been lost, stolen, or abandoned by their owners.



Members of the Health Physics Society, a non-profit professional 

organization of specialists in radiation safety, have been working on 

this matter for some time (see the Health Physics Society's Position 

Paper and Background Document on Orphan Sources on their web site at 

http://www.hps.org/hpspublications/papers.html).  Our concern has 

previously centered on the possibility that such sources may cause 

inadvertent injury through ignorance or mishandling, as happened in 

the former Soviet republic of Georgia, Brazil, Thailand, Spain, and 

other locations.  To these concerns has been added the worry that 

orphan sources can be used to construct dirty bombs. This week, there 

have been two important announcements that hold promise to reduce the 

risk that orphan radioactive sources may be used in terrorist 

attacks, one from the Congress and one from the United Nation's 

International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).



A bill written by Senator Clinton calls for the formation of a task 

force to characterize various radioactive sources by the risk they 

pose, and to take steps to safeguard those sources that pose the 

greatest potential risk of misuse.  The Health Physics Society feels 

that there must be extensive informed discussion on this issue, and 

we urge that the proposed classification scheme be developed with the 

assistance of qualified radiation safety personnel. We recognize that 

it is important to assure the security of those sources that pose the 

greatest threat, but that applying such stringent precautions to 

minor sources can place an undue burden on the businesses, hospitals, 

and research institutions that will ultimately be called upon to 

implement the final requirements of this legislation.  We are also in 

favor of the bill's proposal to create safe and economical storage 

for sealed sources that are no longer in active use; this measure 

will help to assure the security of such sources and will reduce the 

chance that they may end up in the wrong hands.  



The Health Physics Society's understanding of the provisions of 

Senator Clinton's bill appears to be consistent with its work to 

date.  

The Health Physics Society is ready and willing to assist the 

Congress in their efforts to develop and implement a bill with 

provisions 

like those being introduced by Senator Clinton.  We look forward to a 

timely passage of such a bill and its rapid implementation.



Additionally, the initiative announced by the IAEA is another 

valuable tool in the efforts to keep international orphan sources out 

of the hands of those who would harm us.  The IAEA program, by 

helping to find and secure orphan sources, is another important step 

towards ensuring that these are not used in a harmful manner.  The 

IAEA has long recognized the need to secure such sources to ensure 

public health and safety; their recent announcement stresses the 

added urgency of taking these measures.  The Health Physics Society 

fully supports the IAEA's measures to locate, take possession of, and 

secure orphan radioactive sources, and we stand ready to assist them 

in their efforts.



-------------------------------------------------

Sandy Perle

Director, Technical

ICN Worldwide Dosimetry Service

ICN Plaza, 3300 Hyland Avenue

Costa Mesa, CA 92626



Tel:(714) 545-0100 / (800) 548-5100  Extension 2306

Fax:(714) 668-3149



E-Mail: sandyfl@earthlink.net

E-Mail: sperle@icnpharm.com



Personal Website: http://sandy-travels.com

ICN Worldwide Dosimetry Website: http://www.dosimetry.com



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