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A landmark 'International Conference on Security of Radioactive Sources' was held in Vienna on March 11-13. The conference - organised by the International Atomic Energy Agency, co-sponsored by the governments of Russia and the United States, and hosted by the government of Austria - sought to coordinate and accelerate global efforts to counter the threat of 'radiological terrorism': the spectre of a 'dirty bomb' attack understandably haunting governments and publics in the wake of the 9/11 atrocities.
The meeting opened with a sobering address from IAEA Director General Dr. Mohamed ElBaradei, who told delegates from over 120 states:
"Around the world, radioactive sources have been used for decades to benefit humankind - to diagnose and treat illnesses, to monitor oil wells and water aquifers, to preserve food, as well as for many other uses. Millions of sources have been distributed worldwide over the past 50 years, with hundreds of thousands currently in use. Most of these sources, such as those in smoke detectors, are weakly radioactive and individually pose little radiological risk. However, about 12,000 industrial radiography sources are supplied annually; more than 10,000 medical radiotherapy units are in use. These types of sources - and others such as those contained in thermo-electric generators - are significant from a safety and security standpoint, because they contain potentially lethal quantities of radioactive material. To protect the public from the hazards of ionizing radiation, cradle-to-grave control is essential for these radioactive sources. For many years the IAEA has been helping states to strengthen their national regulatory infrastructures, to ensure that such radioactive sources are appropriately regulated at all times. Until recently, our emphasis has been on the safety of radioactive sources, with source security as one aspect of safety. However, in the wake of the September 2001 terrorist attacks, and the stark awareness of the potential for radioactive sources to be used in malevolent acts, source security has taken on a new urgency. But while a number of countries are stepping up relevant security measures, many others lack the resources or the national structures to effectively control radioactive sources. ... A widespread problem involves sources that, due to loss, theft, or abandonment, have fallen outside official regulatory control - the so-called "orphaned" sources. This problem has been especially present in the Newly Independent States, where transitions in governments have in some cases led to a loss of regulatory oversight of radioactive sources. ... Many factors can lead to loss of control of radioactive sources, including: ineffective regulations and regulatory oversight; the lack of management commitment or worker training; poor source design; poor physical protection of sources during storage, transport and use; abandonment due to economic factors; as well as theft or other malicious acts. In view of this wide range of possible causes, addressing the problem is a difficult and complex challenge."
As ElBaradei noted, a major impetus behind the gathering was the "leadership shown by the US Secretary of Energy, Spencer Abraham in continuing to highlight the urgency of addressing the security of radioactive sources worldwide. It was Secretary Abraham, during the September 2002 session of the IAEA General Conference, who suggested the need for our present conference." In his statement to the floor (March 11), Abraham noted:
"We are gathered here to deal with an important issue: the terrible threat posed by those who would turn beneficial radioactive sources into deadly weapons. The technical term for these weapons - Radiological Dispersal Devices or RDDs - has not come into general use. I seldom see it in a headline, or hear it in a newscast. But increasingly the public knows about these weapons, and they are deeply concerned. They call RDDs 'dirty bombs.' It is our critically important job to deny terrorists the radioactive sources they need to construct such weapons. The threat requires a determined and comprehensive international response. Our governments must act, individually and collectively, to identify all the high-risk radioactive sources that are being used and that have been abandoned. We must educate our officials and the general populace, raising awareness of the existence of these dangerous radioactive sources and the consequences of their misuse. And we must account for and tightly secure these sources wherever they may be. Radioactive sources can be found all over the world, and terrorists are seeking to acquire them. The threat they represent to people of every nation is very real. This threat has been a particular concern to the United States since the September 11 attacks. On that day, we learned that terrorists will strike anywhere, at any time. They will employ technology never intended for use as weapons, to murder thousands of innocent and unsuspecting people in the most shocking and ruthless way. We know now that there is no weapon they will not use, and no weapon they are not seeking to acquire. There is nothing they would like better than to cause the panic that the detonation of a radiological dispersal device would create."
On March 13, in his capacity as President of the Conference, Abraham issued a detailed summary of conclusions and recommendations. The meeting, according to the summary, "produced two major findings, as follows:
(1) High-risk radioactive sources that are not under secure and regulated control, including so-called 'orphan' sources, raise serious security and safety concerns. Therefore, an international initiative to facilitate the location, recovery and securing of such radioactive sources throughout the world should be launched under the IAEA's aegis. ...
(2) Effective national infrastructures for the safe and secure management of vulnerable and dangerous radioactive sources are essential for ensuring the long-term security and control of such sources. In order to promote the establishment and maintenance of such infrastructures, states should make a concerted effort to follow the principles contained in the Code of Conduct on the Safety and Security of Radioactive Sources that is currently being revised... In this context, the identification of roles and responsibilities of governments, licensees and international organizations is vital. Therefore, an international initiative to encourage and assist governments in their efforts to establish effective national infrastructures and to fulfil their responsibilities should be launched under the IAEA's aegis, and the IAEA should promote broad adherence to the Code of Conduct once its revised version has been approved."
Reports: UN - nuclear security too poor to stop dirty bombs, Reuters, March 11; Reinforcing security of radioactive sources an urgent concern, WorldAtom staff report, March 11, IAEA website; Statement by IAEA Director General Dr. Mohamed ElBaradei, March 11, 2003, IAEA website; Transcript - Abraham warns of 'terrible threat' from radiological weapons, Washington File, March 12; US to boost aid against 'dirty bombs', Associated Press, March 11; UN nuclear chief warns of 'dirty bombs', Associated Press, March 12; Stronger controls needed to prevent terrorist 'dirty bombs', IAEA Press Release, PR 2003/03, March 13; International Conference on Security of Radioactive Sources, Findings of the President of the Conference, March 13, IAEA website.
© 2003 The Acronym Institute.