Report Urges Cutback of “Dirty Bomb” Ingredient

U.S. research and medical facilities should reduce their use of devices containing cesium chloride, a radioactive form of cesium 137 that could be used in a radiological “dirty bomb,” the National Research Council said yesterday (see GSN, Oct. 10, 2007).

The private advisory organization said that roughly 1,000 devices containing the material are used at U.S. universities and hospitals for purposes such as irradiating blood prior to transfusion.  Cesium chlorine use appears to be increasing, Reuters reported.

“Because of the nature of the applications that employ these irradiators, they are most commonly located in hospitals, blood banks and universities, many of which are located in cities, large and small,” according to the NRC report.  “The presence of these sizable sources in areas that are potentially attractive targets (for attack) is a major factor making radioactive cesium chloride such a concern to the committee.”

In addition, no U.S. facilities exist for disposing of the devices, said Leonard Connell, a staffer at Sandia National Laboratories who worked on the panel that prepared the report.

The report from the National Academy of Sciences body identified the irradiators as the top concern when it comes to material that could be used in a radiological weapon.  Panel members urged U.S. officials to stop licensing the cesium chlorine irradiators, halt their import and export and promote decommissioning of existing machines.

Meanwhile, the government should push pricier but less dangerous cesium chloride substitutes that are equally effective for irradiation, the report says (Will Dunham, Reuters, Feb. 20).

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