The Nuclear Regulatory Committee is rolling out in the near future even stricter security measures for Cesium 137 Blood Irradiators. The current security regulations are a bear to conform to, but the new regulations are even more onerous to conform to. My Radiation Safety Officer is pulling out his hair right now and with the recent press on the possibility that these irradiators are primary terroristic targets, having the most accessible source of dangerous radioactive material and the the extreme danger that the cesium 137 source material could cause if terrorists do obtain this source, he is recommending that we get rid of the cesium 137 blood irradiator ASAP.
He is actually seeing terrorists coming into our hospital (six terrorists to be exact), kicking down the door, shooting everyone in the room or anyone that responds, pulling the irradiator apart, breaking into the bottom of the lead barrier and taking the actual source out.
The article states that the Defense Science Board is recommending the removal as an overall strategy to reduce the threat to the united states from terroristic activities. It further states "Any one of these 1000 plus sources could shut down 25 square kilometers, anywhere in the United States, for 40 plus years". The article is "Terrorism: Hospitals a Hot Commodity" by Pamela Hess of the Associate Press, if anyone wants to read the whole article.
Is anyone else, who has a cesium 137 blood irradiator, also getting pressure to remove this irradiator or replace it with an x-ray blood irradiator or other equipment that can do the same thing? Does anyone know what companies have this x-ray equipment or equivalent device. What the price tag for anyone of these devices and the differences in actual use of these devices as compared the the cesium blood irradiator.
[Edit by site admin]
I have included the article in our files section.
A word of caution.
The NRC through, my local Department of Public Health, has contacted me regarding posts related to irradiators. I will monitor all posts closely, and will need to edit them if necessary.
Under no circumstances should you post any information related to your facility, the security of your irridiator, or irradiator security policies in general.
Thank you for your understanding.