PONI Winter Conference Dirty Bombs and Hospitals: Removing Dangerous Radioactive Material from the Public Space Erin Connolly Program Assistant, Center for Arms Control and Nonproliferation & FMWG PONI Winter Conference December 5th, 2017

Blood Irradiators Located in hospitals, labs, and universities across the world Contain radioactive materials: Cesium 137 or Cobalt 60 Prevent Graft-Versus-Host-Disease during blood transfusions Cesium-chloride used as radioactive source Security guidelines given by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission

Cesium-137 and Cobalt-60 Cesium-137 Cobalt-60 30-year half life Easily dispersible Soluble in water Binds easily to surfaces IAEA “Category I” source -- ‘extremely dangerous’ Cobalt-60 5-year half life Less dispersible Requires a heavier shield for irradiation IAEA “Category I” source

Security of Cesium Irradiators GAO visited various facilities with high-risk radioactive material Cesium blood irradiators housed in a basement open to the public Interior door had the lock combination written on the doorframe Blood irradiator kept in a room secured by a conventional key near windows on the ground floor -- next to a public loading dock All facilities had passed NRC inspections 2012 GAO report

Radiological Dispersal Device: Dirty Bomb Conventional explosive with radiological material Weapon of mass disruption Greater psychological than physical damage Radiation can remain for decades

Cesium & Cobalt Gone Wrong Goiânia, Brazil (1987) Cesium capsule ruptured 4 people died 249 contaminated Over 112,000 sought treatment Hysteria takes care away from those in need Mexico (2013) A truck carrying radioactive materials was hijacked - opened sealed container with Cobalt-60 inside

How to Confront the Radiological Threat Secure all the materials Unlikely under NRC regulations and the various locations Liability costs are not incurred by the private users Replace cesium blood irradiators Non-radioactive options National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) offering financial assistance

Alternatives for Cesium and Cobalt Blood Irradiators X-Ray Technology Nonradioactive source Consistent Linear Accelerators (LINAC) Routinely used for radiotherapy in cancer patients Dual-use option Photochemical “UV” Sterilizers

International Efforts France and Norway have banned cesium blood irradiators Japan has almost completed their transition to the use of x-ray irradiators Others strongly encourage use of x-ray technology Canada, Germany, Italy, Sweden, and the United Kingdom

U.S. Steps Forward Nuclear Security Summit pledges State progress 2016 pledge: replace 34 cesium 137 irradiators by 2020 State progress New York and California have begun to make progress Largest number of radiological devices Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, Texas, and California

Thank you!