NNSA Removes High-Risk Cesium-137 Source from Brazil Hospital in Eighth International Removal in Three Years
The National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) of the U.S. Department of Energy announced in Washington on November 10 that it worked with Brazilian partners to successfully remove a cesium-137 source from a hospital in Manaus, Brazil. Following removal, the source was secured in a radioactive-material shipping container and transported out of Manaus.
The operation targeted a cesium-137 source previously used in a blood irradiator at the Amazonas Hematology and Hemotherapy Hospital Foundation (HEMOAM). While cesium-137 is used for medical applications such as treating blood for transfusions, the highly radioactive source could be stolen and used to create a "dirty bomb." Earlier this year, NNSA provided an X-ray blood irradiator for HEMOAM, allowing hospital workers to continue providing critical blood irradiation services for patients without the security challenges associated with radioactive sources.
In September, a team from NNSA's Y-12 National Security Complex worked alongside Brazilian partners to safely disassemble, package, and transport the radiological materials. Representatives from Brazil's nuclear regulatory authority, HEMOAM, and other radiological officials provided logistical and technical support throughout the removal process. The removal was the culmination of months of planning and coordination between U.S. and Brazilian partners.
"Our agency's marching orders are clear: eliminate high-consequence risks before bad actors can exploit them," said Matthew Napoli, Deputy Administrator for NNSA's Office of Defense Nuclear Nonproliferation. "Taking this material off the board is a major win that demonstrates American capability in action." Rogerio Mourao, Head of the Waste Management Unit at Brazil's Center for Nuclear Technology Development, said the win-win project, extremely beneficial to Brazil, was carried out according to the highest security and industrial safety requirements and in accordance with applicable Brazilian regulations.
The Brazil operation marks NNSA's eighth international radioactive-source removal in the last three years, according to the Department of Energy. (Source: U.S. Department of Energy)
Source: U.S. Department of Energy
Published by GSM · USA (original Chinese edition)
Photo: 图：移除后，铯-137放射源被装入放射性材料运输容器、吊装上车运出 Manaus。照片：美国能源部国家核安全局，公共领域。 / Photo: After removal, the cesium-137 source is secured in a radioactive-material shipping container and lifted onto a truck for transport out of Manaus. Photo by the U.S. Department of Energy / NNSA, public domain.
