The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) calls for better protection when transporting radioactive material. Last year, 31 countries reported a total of 168 cases in which radiation materials were stolen, lost or otherwise fell into the wrong hands. This is evident from figures published by the IAEA on Monday at the start of a nuclear safety conference in Vienna. This corresponds to the long-term average.
Since registration began in 1993, a total of more than 4,200 incidents have occurred. According to the IAEA, more than half of all thefts occur during the transport of radioactive material. This often concerns contaminated metal waste, technical equipment equipped with radiation sources or medical goods. “Nuclear material and other radioactive materials remain vulnerable to safety risks during transport,” warned Elena Buglova, head of the IAEA’s Nuclear Safety Division.
Only a few cases with criminal intent
According to the IAEA, only very rarely is there a clear case of crime when such material that endangers health disappears. Last year, only six incidents were related to illegal trade or criminal intent. For example, in most other cases, radioactive materials were removed or transported without proper authorization.
In recent years, the IAEA has recorded only a handful of criminal incidents at a time, while the number of non-criminal cases has increased since the early 2000s.
Source: Krone
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