MaximsNewsNetwork: LEBANON RADIATION UNITED NATIONS IAEA

MaximsNewsNetwork: 10 September 2009 - IAEA: An IAEA mission to get powerful radioactive sources out of Lebanon was completed last month after a plane carrying the high-activity cargo safely touched down in Russia, where the sources are now securely and safely stored.

The start of a mission by the UNs nuclear watchdog agency, IAEA, to remove powerful radioactive sources from Lebanon: Inside this thick lead shielding are 36 radioactive sources.

Each the size of a long, thin paintbrush and powerful enough to kill a person within minutes, if directly exposed.
They are Cobalt 60 sources from an irradiator, once used for an agricultural project. But that was ten years ago. Now they are a liability, and the IAEA spent three years organizing to move them out of a volatile region.

SOUNDBITE (English) Robin Heard, IAEA Radioactive Source Expert:
Given the political situation in the Middle East and particularly in Lebanon we would regard this source was particularly vulnerable to malicious acts.

Heard says the IAEA was worried that terrorists might get hold of the source and use it for a dirty bomb.

SOUNDBITE (English) Robin Heard, IAEA Radioactive Source Expert:
This was 3,500 curies so its very powerful. And if it was stolen it could cause a lot of damage to people.

The European Union donated money to the IAEAs nuclear security fund to secure high activity sources, like these, in the Middle East.

The move out of Lebanon took careful planning, with several setbacks due to insecurity before the sources could be moved to special transport containers, to be flown out of the country.
The IAEA worked closely with a team from the Lebanese Atomic Energy Commission.
SOUNDBITE (Arabic) Ms. Muzna Assi, Nuclear Security Expert, Lebanese Atomic Energy Commission:
In July 2009 a Russian expert team came with the IAEA and put the sources into specific and secure containers so they could transport them correctly. They were transported through Beirut airport in August 2009. And this was very good for Lebanon and corresponds to the nuclear security measures that the Lebanese Government wanted to have.
The high-activity cargo is taken to the airport; security is tight.
On 30 August 2009, the sources were safely repatriated back to Russia, where they will be secure.

MaximsNewsNetwork:
News Network for the United Nations and the International Community.
See: http://www.MaximsNews.com.
"GIVING POWER & RESONANCE TO THE VOICE OF THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY"

.

Category:

News & Politics

Tags:

• IAEA
• radiation
• UN
• United Nations
• MaximsNews Network
• MaximsNewsNetwork

[kataklysm696]

@ALARAiswise 3500Ci CO-60 ~45Sv /h in 1 meter distance. LD 50/30 ~5Sv so you get it in under 7 minutes

[ALARAiswise]

WOW, 3500 curies is seriously cooking !!!

LD50 in minutes ?