Re: Nuclear Proliferation

[Philip Hypes <phypes@nis5.lanl.gov>]

One of the most likely nuclear proliferation scenarios is the terrorist
use of a bomb or improvised nuclear device.  The response to such a
scenario would require a lot of HP support.  Besides, the HP profession
got it's start during the Manhattan project.  I'd say that the radiation
effects of nuclear weapons are their most feared effect for most members
of the general public.  Imagine the HP job to be done if a terrorist mixed
some Pu with ordinary explosive and set it off in a big city.  The only
deaths may result from the chemical explosives, but hundreds of
thousands would be potentially exposed to what they've been told is
the deadliest substance on earth.  I definitely see these as issues the
HPS and AND should be addressing.  These societies are in a unique
position to advise the government of the threat of nuclear proliferation,
and also of steps that can be taken to reduce the loss of life if (many
would say when) such an event occurs, God forbid.

It should (key word) be easier to convince the public and the politicians
of the importance of nonproliferation efforts.  We don't need to convince
them that something they don't understand isn't as bad as they think,
we need to convince them that we need to prevent bombs or bomb material
from getting into the wrong hands.  I've never met anyone who was opposed
to nonproliferation, but I'm sure a lot of people have no idea how imminent
the threat is.

Phil Hypes
phypes@nis5.lanl.gov


At 06:51 AM 1/13/99 -0600, you wrote:
>Is it the role of the HPS or ANS to do this?  Is this really a radiological 
>safety issue?  Seems to me this is more a role for federal agencies (State 
>Department, DOD, etc.)  If it is a role for us, hopefully we'll be more 
>effective than we've been thus far convincing the  anti-nuke pukes about
even 
>trivial things, such as BRC.  If we can't do any better than we've done
using 
>the linear, non-threshold dose model as a basis for regulations, we had
better 
>stay a safe distance away from ANY nuclear weapons issues.
>
>I remember years ago, at a Chicago HPS meeting, the opening/welcome talk 
>presented by the mayor was about nuclear weapons nonproliferation.  It had  
>absolutely nothing to do with radiation safety.  Frankly, a number of us
were 
>very disappointed, even resentful, that he either knew so little about us
and/or
>was using us as a springboard to accomplish something on his personal
political 
>agenda.  It really started our meeting started on a sour note.  Perhaps the 
>pendulum has swung in the other direction and this is something we should be 
>involved with.  If so, I nominate you to be the new HPS Nuke-Non-Prolif 
>Committee Chairman.
>
>______________________________ Reply Separator
_________________________________
>Subject: Nuclear Proliferation
>Author:  radsafe@romulus.ehs.uiuc.edu at guardian
>Date:    1/12/99 12:25 PM
>
>
>The Philadelphia Enquirerer is running an excellent series
>of articles on nuclear proliferation in the former Soviet Union.
>They can be found at
>
>http://www.phillynews.com/inquirer/99/Jan/12/front_page/NUKE12.htm
>
>I wonder if the HPS or ANS are doing anything to convince
>political leaders that more needs to be done to counter the
>proliferation threat?
>
>Phil Hypes
>phypes@nis5.lanl.gov
>
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