NTI Expert Highlights Cesium-137 Risks to Health Care Professionals
NTI Program Officer for Scientific and Technical Affairs Michelle Nalabandian addressed the “dirty bomb” threat posed by radiological sources in medical equipment.
New Video Resources Available: Addressing Radiological Risks Associated with Cesium-137 Blood Irradiators
The Pacific Northwest
National Laboratory has released a series of educational videos to address the risks posed by high-activity
radioactive material used in hospitals, specifically cesium-137 blood
irradiators. These videos—designed for hospital staff and administrators as
well as others interested in the issues–feature presentations and discussions from
a June 2017 event hosted by
the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene and the Memorial
Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, in partnership with the National Nuclear
Security Administration’s Office of Radiological Security. Experts at this event included NTI’s Vice
President Andrew Bieniawski who highlighted the availability of safe
and effective alternative X-ray technology to help permanently remove the risk
of this radioactive material being used to create a “dirty bomb.”
This event was part of
a city-wide campaign led by the New York City Department of Health and Mental
Hygiene to significantly reduce radiological risks in the city, which led to an
announcement in October 2017 about a
first-of-its-kind, innovative program to replace high-activity radiological
sources with effective alternative equipment at hospitals, medical facilities
and blood banks throughout New York City.
NTI is working with
federal and state partners, including the New York City Department of Health
and Mental Hygiene, the Mount Sinai Health System, and the U.S. Department of
Energy’s National Nuclear Security Administration, to raise awareness about the
threat of cesium-137 and other dangerous isotopes, and to encourage the use,
where feasible, of safe and effective alternative technologies for eliminating
the threat permanently. Read more about
NTI’s work on this issue on the “Preventing a Dirty Bomb” project page.
Keynote
presentation by Andrew Bieniawski: Current assessments
on risks and vulnerabilities from high activity rad sources
Panel discussion chaired by Andrew Bieniawski: Threat reduction and comparative studies
Presentation by Dr. Lance Garrison (NNSA): National initiatives and global collaborative efforts in risk reduction through alternative technologies
Presentation by Dr. Colin K. Hill (University of Southern California): Switching to X-ray irradiators for research at the University of Southern California
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