NUCLEAR NONPROLIFERATION: U.S. and International Assistance Efforts to Control Sealed Radioactive Sources Need Strengthening

Abstract

Sealed radioactive sources, radioactive material encapsulated in stainless steel or other metal, are used worldwide in medicine, industry, and research. These sealed sources pose a threat to national security because terrorists could use them to make dirty bombs. GAO was asked to determine (1) the number of sealed sources worldwide and how many have been reported lost, stolen, or abandoned; (2) the controls, both legislative and regulatory, used by countries that possess sealed sources; and (3) the assistance provided by the Department of Energy (DOE) and other U.S. federal agencies to strengthen other countries control over sealed sources and the extent to which these efforts are believed to be effectively implemented.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
May 01, 2003
Accession Number
AD1179639

Entities

People

  • Gene Aloise

Organizations

  • United States Government Accountability Office

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Biomedical
  • Weapons Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Beta Particles
  • Commerce
  • Congress
  • Department Of Defense
  • Department Of State
  • Detectors
  • European Union
  • Gamma Rays
  • Governments
  • Health Services
  • Interagency Coordination
  • International Organizations
  • International Relations
  • Medical Personnel
  • National Governments
  • Nuclear Energy
  • Nuclear Materials
  • Nuclear Reactors
  • Personnel Management
  • Radioactive Materials
  • Radiological Weapons
  • Smoke Detectors
  • United States
  • Ussr
  • Waste Management

Readers

  • Electrical Engineering
  • Government and Public Administration Law.
  • Nuclear Non-Proliferation and International Security