Wanted: Alternatives for high-radioactive sources

At an international meeting of experts taking place in Vienna on June 14 2018, experts, government representatives, and politicians discuss whether and how high-radioactive sources in areas such as medicine and industry can be replaced by alternatives. The objective is to reduce the risk resulting from radioactive sources.

For the first time, Germany, represented by the Federal Office for Radiation Protection (BfS), chairs the meeting in co-operation with the USA and France.

Application and safety of high-radioactive sources

High-radioactive sources are sealed radioactive substances. Their use in many areas of industry, medicine and research has become indispensable. Among others, they are used

• in radiotherapy and transfusion medicine
• in the non-destructive testing of different materials
• for density measurements in research and
• for product irradiation.

On the other hand, they represent a radiological risk that needs to be taken seriously, especially in view of criminal and terrorist threats. For persons in the immediate vicinity, the radiation emitted by such a source may lead to severe, even fatal radiation damages within a short period of time; securing them is thus of high importance.

The handling of such sources as well as their loss or finding have therefore been strictly regulated at an international level. In Germany, all high-radioactive sources are recorded in a central register (HRQ Register) at the BfS.

Exchange of international experiences with alternative technologies

Blood irradiator Source: Identification of Sources and Devices - Reference Manual, IAEA Nuclear Security Series, 2007

The expert meeting brought together representatives of several states in order to exchange expe-riences and to discuss how conventional applications with high-radioactive sources can be replaced by alternative technologies that are less risky from the safety point of view.

France has played a pioneering role in this issue: All devices for the irradiation of blood bags with high-radioactive caesium chloride have been replaced by X-ray devices. Also the city of New York (USA) has removed all caesium chloride sources from its hospitals for safety reasons and – if necessary – replaced by appropriate alternatives.

Apart from latest developments, also the costs and savings resulting from the application of alternative technologies are discussed. Furthermore, the experts talk about additional necessities regarding research and development.

The meeting is an open forum for the exchange of information and experiences. Since 2015, the meeting is held in Vienna on a regular basis. The rooms are provided by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).