Canwest News Service reports that the approximately 1,400 irradiation machines in universities, hospitals, and blood banks across the U.S. and Canada are a main terrorist target because of their potential “malevolent use” in a “dirty bomb.” According to the Washington-based National Research Council, these devices contain cesium-137, a powdery, radioactive, “highly dispersible” byproduct of nuclear power generation used for various medical and research purposes.
The NRC urges that these irradiators be replaced ASAP. Amen to that.