Radiological Materials Research Articles

National Toxic Substances Incidents Program - Nine States, 2010-2014.

Problem/ConditionEvery year in the United States, thousands of toxic substance incidents harm workers, first responders, and the public with the potential for catastrophic consequences. Surveillance data enable public health and safety professionals to understand the patterns and causes of these incidents, which can improve prevention efforts and preparation for future incidents.Period Covered2010–2014.Description of SystemIn 2010, the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) initiated the National Toxic Substance Incidents Program (NTSIP), and it was retired in 2014. Nine state health departments participated in NTSIP surveillance: California, Louisiana, North Carolina, New York, Missouri, Oregon, Tennessee, Utah, and Wisconsin. The states conducted surveillance on acute toxic substance incidents, defined as an uncontrolled or illegal acute (lasting <72 hours) release of any toxic substance including chemical, biologic, radiologic, and medical materials. Surveillance focused on associated morbidity and mortality and public health actions. This report presents an overview of NTSIP and summarizes incidents and injuries from the nine participating states during 2010–2014.ResultsDuring 2010–2014, participating state health departments reported 22,342 incidents, of which 13,529 (60.6%) met the case definition for acute toxic substance incidents, and included 6,635 injuries among 5,134 injured persons, of whom 190 died. A trend analysis of the three states participating the entire time showed a decrease in the number of incidents with injuries. NTSIP incidents were 1.8 times more likely and injured persons were 10 times more likely to be associated with fixed facilities than transportation. Natural gas, carbon monoxide, ammonia, and chemicals used in illegal methamphetamine production were the most frequent substances in fixed-facility incidents. Sodium and potassium hydroxide, hydrochloric acid, natural gas, and sulfuric acid were the most frequent substances in transportation-related incidents. Carbon monoxide was the most frequent substance in incidents with a large number of injured persons, and chemicals used in illegal methamphetamine production were the most frequent substance in incidents involving decontamination. Incidents most frequently occurred during normal business days (Monday through Friday) and hours (6:00 a.m.–5:59 p.m.) and warmer months (March–August). The transportation and warehousing industry sector had the largest number of incidents (4,476); however, most injured persons were injured in their private residences (1,141) or in the industry sectors of manufacturing (668), educational services (606), and real estate rental and leasing (425). The most frequently injured persons were members of the public (43.6%), including students. Injured first responders, particularly police, frequently were not wearing any chemically protective equipment. Respiratory system problems (23.9%) were the most frequently reported symptoms among injured persons and, in a related finding, volatilization was the most frequent type of release in incidents with injured persons.InterpretationIndustrial and transportation incidents occur frequently and have the potential for catastrophic outcomes. However, exposures to toxic substances occur frequently in other settings. Carbon monoxide, natural gas, and chemicals used in illegal methamphetamine production are commonly found in places where persons live, work, attend school, and recreate and are large contributors to incidents affecting the public. Having active NTSIP state surveillance programs did appear to improve the incidents with morbidity and/or mortality, but these programs have ended.Public Health ActionArchived NTSIP public use data are available to download from the website for analysis. There are also many publications and reports on the website to help understand chemical risks. In addition, jurisdictions might choose to collect surveillance data themselves in a similar manner to what NTSIP states did. Chemical incident surveillance data can be used by public health and safety practitioners, worker representatives, emergency planners, preparedness coordinators, industries, and emergency responders to prepare for and prevent chemical incidents and injuries. As noted by the U.S. Chemical Safety Board, more action needs to be taken to prevent large industrial incidents. Although preventing such incidents might not be in the realm of public health, describing the public health implications and preparing for them is. Another important finding of NTSIP is that industrial incidents are only part of the problem. For example, a large number of persons were injured in a private residence or vehicle (22.2%) and an educational facility (11.8%). Public health professionals must resourcefully target prevention and preparedness to protect vulnerable populations in locations where they might spend time (e.g., schools, daycares, nursing homes, recreational areas, jails, prisons, and hospitals). Reducing the threat of chemical incidents and injuries in the United States will require a concerted effort with a variety of stakeholders including industry and labor, responder groups, policymakers, academia, and citizen advocacy groups.

Clinical characteristics of 140 patients infected with SARS-CoV-2 in Wuhan, China.

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection has been widely spread. We aim to investigate the clinical characteristic and allergy status of patients infected with SARS-CoV-2. Electronic medical records including demographics, clinical manifestation, comorbidities, laboratory data, and radiological materials of 140 hospitalized COVID-19 patients, with confirmed result of SARS-CoV-2 viral infection, were extracted and analyzed. An approximately 1:1 ratio of male (50.7%) and female COVID-19 patients was found, with an overall median age of 57.0years. All patients were community-acquired cases. Fever (91.7%), cough (75.0%), fatigue (75.0%), and gastrointestinal symptoms (39.6%) were the most common clinical manifestations, whereas hypertension (30.0%) and diabetes mellitus (12.1%) were the most common comorbidities. Drug hypersensitivity (11.4%) and urticaria (1.4%) were self-reported by several patients. Asthma or other allergic diseases were not reported by any of the patients. Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD, 1.4%) patients and current smokers (1.4%) were rare. Bilateral ground-glass or patchy opacity (89.6%) was the most common sign of radiological finding. Lymphopenia (75.4%) and eosinopenia (52.9%) were observed in most patients. Blood eosinophil counts correlate positively with lymphocyte counts in severe (r=.486, P<.001) and nonsevere (r=.469, P<.001) patients after hospital admission. Significantly higher levels of D-dimer, C-reactive protein, and procalcitonin were associated with severe patients compared to nonsevere patients (all P<.001). Detailed clinical investigation of 140 hospitalized COVID-19 cases suggests eosinopenia together with lymphopenia may be a potential indicator for diagnosis. Allergic diseases, asthma, and COPD are not risk factors for SARS-CoV-2 infection. Older age, high number of comorbidities, and more prominent laboratory abnormalities were associated with severe patients.

Understanding loss of containment of non-radiological chemotoxic materials in the civil nuclear and process industries

Loss of containment of toxic and flammable inventories from process plant is associated with a long history of major accidents including fires, explosions and toxic releases. Such accidents affect both workers and the offsite public. These issues are often associated with the onshore process industries which incorporate a very wide range of segments including pharmaceutical manufacture, tank storage, downstream oil & gas, fine and speciality chemical manufacture as well as many others. What may be less well appreciated is that while the Civil Nuclear sector has a key focus on containment of radiological materials, it also maintains significant inventories of flammable and toxic materials, which it terms ‘chemotoxic’ hazards. It follows that a very broad range of industries have a desire to prevent and mitigate the potential for loss of containment events which release chemotoxic materials.Existing sources of loss of containment intelligence include the Health & Safety Executive (HSE) and other databases which can be interrogated to glean process safety insights. Such systems incorporate some limited coding of data, but often feature much greater detail within unstructured free text. Systematic interrogation of such free text fields could yield greater detail within process safety insights as well as a potentially larger number of records with which to draw insight.The Discovering Safety Programme is a multidisciplinary initiative funded by the Lloyd’s Register Foundation. The programme aims to improve plateaued safety performance through better insight via data analysis tools including text mining and natural language processing.This paper describes the early stages of a project within the Discovering Safety Programme to obtain process safety insights from HSE’s regulatory database. This work includes analysis of coded information, proposals to extract intelligence from unstructured free text and also exploration of whether process safety intelligence can be extracted from a subset of occupational safety incidents. The paper describes the findings from industry consultation, including the civil nuclear sector.

Application of a Novel Search Method to Handheld Gamma Radiation Detectors

This work details an innovative method to search a complex enclosed area for a gamma-ray emitting material using a handheld gross-counts gamma detector. It is not a wide area search tool. It relies on triangulating a search area and using the Currie limit of detection to determine the presence of radioactive gamma-ray emitting materials. Results of experimental trials of the model indicate its effectiveness in detecting radiation sources in complex environments. This highlights its potential application in locating radiological material for nuclear security purposes. The method is currently 2-D but is being extended to 3-D.

Data Science in Support of Radiation Detection for Border Monitoring: An Exploratory Study

Radiation detection technology is widely deployed to identify undeclared nuclear or radiological materials in transit. However, in certain environments the effective use of radiation detection systems is complicated by the presence of significant quantities of naturally occurring radioactive materials that trigger nuisance alarms which divert attention from valid investigations. The frequency of nuisance alarms sometimes results in the raising of alarming thresholds, reducing the likelihood that systems will detect the low levels of radioactivity produced by key threat materials such as shielded highly enriched uranium. This paper explores the potential of using data science techniques, such as dynamic time warping and agglomerative hierarchical clustering, to provide new insights into the cause of alarms within the maritime shipping environment. These methods are used to analyze the spatial radiation profiles generated by shipments of naturally occurring radioactive materials as they are passed through radiation portal monitors. Applied to a real-life dataset of alarming occupancies, the application of these techniques is shown to preferentially group and identify similar commodities. With further testing and development, the data-driven approach to alarm assessment presented in this paper could be used to characterize shipments of naturally occurring radioactive materials at the primary scanning stage, significantly reducing time spent resolving nuisance alarms.

Knowledge and attitude toward radiological contrast material among patients attending secondary healthcare hospitals Jazan, KSA, 2019

Background: Radiological contrast materials (RCMs) are safe and widely used but adverse events may occur, which may be mild or life threatening and lead to death. The present study aimed to assess the knowledge and attitude levels toward RCMs among patients in Jazan city, Saudi Arabia. Methodology: This cross-sectional study recruited 414 patients, who visited the Radiology Department at general hospitals of the Ministry of Health, in Jazan during October to December 2018 and underwent a radiological diagnostic workup. The study was conducted via a self-administered questionnaire. Results: A total of 414 participants were included in the study. The male to female ratio was 1:1. Almost half of the participants were employed and one-third were unemployed. Half of the participants expressed their poor knowledge about radiological contrast material and two-thirds of the patients had a neutral attitude toward radiological contrast material. However, there were statistical significances between occupation and educational level, and with knowledge and attitude level. Conclusion: These findings highlight a need for programs that would aim to increase the level of awareness about the importance of radiological contrast material and related indications and contraindications.

Rendgenološka slika oftalmoloških sindroma

It's common for the syndromes indicate to the author or authors who discovered them. The paper aims to show the image of X-rays and ophthalmic syndrome and to point out to those who can be recognized by the proper radiological and ophthalmologic examination. The work is based on knowledge and experience of the author and co-author of the acquired long experience in the profession, acquired many years of ophthalmology and radiological material, the papers presented in the relevant national and international journals, history and local and foreign literary press. Are shown in - Syndrom Stuger-Weber-Krabbe, Syndrome Wyburn-Mason, Syndrome Von Hippel-Lindau, Syndrome Crouzon, Syndrome Apertand Syndrome Saethre-Chotzen. The authors conclude that ophthalmic syndromes have their own specificity in radiologically-ophthalmologic image.

Modular and Integrated Sensor Network of Intelligent Radiation Monitor Systems for Radiological and Nuclear Threat Response

Increased sensitivity to nuclear safety and security issues has prompted public entities and private institutions to maximize their capability to rapidly assess risks and intervene in the case of accident or threat. Quick intervention and response are achieved through nuclear measurements via airborne, land, and underwater systems. A network of cohesive, well-integrated and easy deployable radiation monitoring systems combined with real-time analysis of data is essential to facilitate and enhance the decision-making process during these most critical moments enhancing the quality of the management plan. The presented radiation monitoring systems can be integrated in several form factors which depend mainly on operational needs and internal battery for autonomous operation. Compact ARM based computers is embedded, which can store large amount of data in their non-volatile memory, run automatic data analysis and trigger alarms in case of exceeding radiation levels. All the systems can communicate with redundant interfaces in failover configuration and upload the acquired environmental information in a central database. The same monitoring systems can alert the emergency response personnel on the field as well, through wireless connection to common tablets or cellphone or SMS, guaranteeing a prompt response in case an illicit transportation of radiological or nuclear material is detected.

A Feasibility Investigation of Laboratory Based X-ray Absorption Spectroscopy in Support of Nuclear Waste Management

ABSTRACTX-ray Absorption Spectroscopy is a technique of fundamental importance in nuclear waste management, as an element specific probe of speciation, which governs radionuclide solubility, immobilisation and migration. Here, we exploit recent developments in laboratory instrumentation for X-ray Absorption Spectroscopy, based on a Rowland circle geometry with a spherically bent crystal analyser, to demonstrate speciation in prototype ceramic and glass-ceramic waste forms. Laboratory and synchrotron XANES data acquired from the same materials, at the Ce and U L3 edges, were found to be in excellent quantitative agreement. We establish that analysable laboratory XANES data may be acquired, and interpreted for speciation, even from quite dilute absorber concentrations of a few mol%, albeit with data acquisition times of several hours. For materials with suitable absorber concentrations, this approach will enable routine element specific speciation studies to support rapid optimisation of radioactive waste forms and analysis of radiological materials in a purpose designed laboratory, without the risk associated with transport and manipulation at a synchrotron radiation facility.

Interdependent Factors of Demand-Side Rationale for Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear Medical Countermeasures.

The deliberate use of chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear (CBRN) materials in war or terrorist attacks is perceived as a great threat globally. In the event of a release of CBRN agents, protection by means of medical countermeasures (MedCMs) could reduce health vulnerability. Nonetheless, for some diseases caused by these agents, innovative MedCMs do not exist and many of those that do might not be readily available. Inappropriate research and development funding and government procurement efforts can result in adverse economic consequences (eg, lost income, cost per loss of life, medical expenses) far exceeding the costs of strong and comprehensive preparedness initiatives. By illustrating factors of demand-side rationale for CBRN MedCMs, this article aims to strengthen integrity of policy-making associated with current demand requirements. Namely, an approach to inspire broader assessment is outlined by compiling and adapting existing economic models and concepts to characterize both soft and hard factors that influence demand-side rationale. First, the soft factor context is set by describing the impact of behavioral and political economics. Then, lessons learned from past public health funding models and associated collaborative access infrastructure are depicted to represent hard factors that can enhance the viability of MedCM preparedness evaluations.

Neutronics characteristics of a 165 MWth Xe-100 reactor

The Xe-100 is a high temperature, helium-cooled, graphite moderated, pebble bed reactor (HTGR) featuring a 6-times through, multi-pass (MEDUL = MEhrfachDUrchLauf) fuelling scheme. It is designed for delivering heat in the form of superheated steam at 565 °C and 16.5 MPa. This steam can be used to generate electricity, provide process heat for petrochemical application, or for cogeneration applications, such as the treatment of contaminated water resources, whilst simultaneously generating electricity.The design is characterized as a Generation IV reactor, with a core that cannot melt and featuring safety characteristics that will eliminate the need at any time to evacuate or displace the public, or that will cause unallowable contamination of the land. The technology is based on proven technology that has demonstrated these safety claims both experimentally and in commercial deployment. The foundation of proof ensures high levels of design and technical readiness.In the overview presented below a parametric comparison is offered of a 165 MWth design against that of X-energy’s 200 MWth reference Xe-100 design. The excess reactivity in both cases is shown to be limited by the continuous fuelling regime, whilst the core geometry and selected core power density enables passive heat removal. In this way the desired intrinsic safety design features of a typical GEN IV design are guaranteed. It is shown that even in the event of a depressurized loss of forced coolant (DLOFC) design basis event, no significant amount of radiological material will be released. A larger margin of tolerance is afforded in the 165 MWth design case, as expected.The coupled core neutronic and thermo-fluid dynamics design for the Xe-100 is performed with the VSOP-A and MGT systems of codes. For the equilibrium core, VSOP results demonstrate that the spherical fuel powers (maximum 3.0 kW) and operational temperatures (<1000 °C) fall well within the envelope of the design criteria. Adequate reactivity control and long-term, cold shutdown are provided by two separate, independently actuated systems, while the overall negative reactivity temperature coefficient is illustrated over the total operational range.

The Radiology Resident as Teaching Consultant: An Innovative Peer-to-Peer Teaching Consultation Service to Strengthen Relationships With Referring Colleagues in the Era of Imaging 3.0

BackgroundThe American College of Radiology Imaging 3.0 paradigm emphasizes the need for radiologists to serve as imaging consultants to their referring colleagues. However, outside the reading room, teaching interactions between radiology and nonradiology residents are limited. Internal Medicine Morning Report (IMMR) is a resident-run educational program widely employed by internal medicine (IM) residencies. Although medical imaging is regularly discussed in IMMR, radiology residents are not typically involved in case preparation. We aimed to develop a peer-to-peer imaging teaching consultation service (TCS) incorporated into the well-established structure of IMMR. By creating illustrative, “dynamic” teaching slides for use at these conferences, we sought to provide salient radiology teaching material, demystify jargon, discuss appropriate imaging use, and review relevant anatomy. We hypothesized that TCS could improve the quality of IMMR as perceived by the IM presenter. MethodsTCS was piloted over a 7-month period. Each referred case was reviewed by a senior radiology resident who produced a set of “dynamic” teaching slides for each case. These included patient imaging overlayed with extensive annotations and animations highlighting teaching points, with particular attention to radiologic terminology. Slides were shared with the IM presenter, who could use them for preparation and include the animations in the talk if desired. TCS effectiveness was evaluated with a survey distributed to participating IM residents. ResultsIn the pilot period, 12 TCS requests were received and 10 were performed in collaboration with 6 IM residents. Survey results indicated that most IM residents did not consult radiologists prior to TCS (5/6, 83%). IM residents used the “dynamic” teaching slides to both prepare for and present at IMMR (5/6, 83%). TCS improved IM residents’ perceived ability to engage their audience (6/6, 100%), confidence in teaching radiology material (4/6, 67%), ability to understand radiology reports (4/6, 67%) and appreciation for what radiologists do (6/6, 100%). ConclusionsThe TCS pilot resulted in successful radiology-IM collaboration and improved knowledge and confidence in teaching imaging concepts. Continuous program evaluation will be performed and future work will assess the effect of TCS on radiologist confidence in real-world clinical consultations.

Towards Protecting Critical National Assets and Preparedness for Response to Hazardous Chemical, Biological and Radiological Attacks

Hazardous chemical, biological and radiological (CBR) materials are catching attention of unscrupulous actors for creating terror and havoc. Threat perception for use of such materials by terrorists and non-state actors for malicious purposes, is not imaginative but real and imminent in today’s context. World has witnessed a number of such incidences in the recent years, e.g., Mustard gas attack against Kurdish forces in Iraq; ricin laced letters sent to US President and others senators; use of Nerve gas agents in Syria; capturing of Uranium from University of al- Mousal, Iraq by IS, etc. National assets like critical buildings where main legislative, historical building, Hospitals are some of the likely targets for CBR attacks attract quick coverage by media. Authorities related with managing and safeguarding mechanisms of the facilities to prevent such events happening also to enhance their capabilities as well as effective response. Essential CBR security should include measures to rapidly detect and effectively deter the CBR incidences their deleterious consequences. In this review, protection of the critical facilities from CBR attacks and capacity in terms of infrastructure, specialised training and mutual aid have been discussed.

Elaboration of Theoretical Methods for Assessment of Isolated and Combined Physical Damage Effects of Technogenic Accident While Transporting Radiological Materials by Multimodal Transport

To enhance the safety of the transport of dangerous goods in tanks, the latter should improve the mechanical (physical) protection to prevent accidental damage to the boilers, such as objects containing dangerous goods directly. Damage to the boiler will almost inevitably leads to such consequences as decompression, the leakage of liquid radioactive waste and radiation pollution of the surrounding area. This article discusses scenarios accidents when overloading with marine railway transport; the explosion of gas cylinders on board the vessel. Calculation formulas are obtained to determine the speed at which the shards is provided by probabilistic the breakout a certain thickness of the tank walls. Received probability distribution function for the specified parameters shards and material barriers, which was determined by conducting a full-scale experiment. The results of theoretical studies, experiments used to improve designs of tanks carrying LRW and recommendations for improving the security of multimodal transport.

The results of the development of a personalized method of mandibular foramen searching in the aspect of mproving the efficiency and safety of inferior alveolar nerve block

The position of mandibular foramen and its correspondence with the mandibular nerve are the key positions of the personified research. The ideas of different anatomic schools about the positions of mandibular foramen are based on their own research of native, clinical, radiological materials and on the averaged common tendencies.

High pressure decontamination of building materials during radiological incident recovery

The release of radiological material from a nuclear incident has the potential to cause extensive radiological contamination requiring rapid decontamination. A promising method for rapid remediation is the use of pressure washers to decontaminate building and street surfaces. Pressure washers utilize both physical removal through surface ablation and chemical removal through desorption of bonded radionuclides. To understand the extent that each removal mechanism is present, overall removals, depth profiles, and wash water were analyzed from the pressure washing of various surfaces contaminated with cesium, strontium, and europium. Removals were dependent on surface type with over 80% of the radionuclides removed from concrete, 50–80% from asphalt, and only 20–25% from brick. Generally, the closer the radionuclide was to the surface of the material, the higher the removal, with europium being removed most readily followed by cesium then strontium, though some exceptions were evident. Comparing these removals and depth profiles of radionuclides in non-decontaminated coupons revealed that cesium and europium are mostly removed through surface ablation. Strontium, on the other hand, is desorbed from the surface, especially from brick and asphalt surfaces. Correspondingly, cesium and europium were attached to the particulates that were likely removed with the pressurized water. Strontium was primarily dissolved in the wash water, supporting the observation that the radionuclide is desorbed from each surface. Finally, the faster the surfaces were brought through the high pressure spray, the lower the removals, arising from decreases in both the physical and desorption mechanisms. Pressure washers were concluded to be a promising decontamination method during radiological incident relief. However, the surface and radionuclide identity must be considered when developing proper procedures.

Advances in Nuclear Radiation Sensing: Enabling 3-D Gamma-Ray Vision

The enormous advances in sensing and data processing technologies in combination with recent developments in nuclear radiation detection and imaging enable unprecedented and “smarter” ways to detect, map, and visualize nuclear radiation. The recently developed concept of three-dimensional (3-D) Scene-data fusion allows us now to “see” nuclear radiation in three dimensions, in real time, and specific to radionuclides. It is based on a multi-sensor instrument that is able to map a local scene and to fuse the scene data with nuclear radiation data in 3-D while the instrument is freely moving through the scene. This new concept is agnostic of the deployment platform and the specific radiation detection or imaging modality. We have demonstrated this 3-D Scene-data fusion concept in a range of configurations in locations, such as the Fukushima Prefecture in Japan or Chernobyl in Ukraine on unmanned and manned aerial and ground-based platforms. It provides new means in the detection, mapping, and visualization of radiological and nuclear materials relevant for the safe and secure operation of nuclear and radiological facilities or in the response to accidental or intentional releases of radioactive materials where a timely, accurate, and effective assessment is critical. In addition, the ability to visualize nuclear radiation in 3-D and in real time provides new means in the communication with public and facilitates to overcome one of the major public concerns of not being able to “see” nuclear radiation.

Analysis by Monte Carlo of thermal neutron flux from a 241Am/9Be source for a system of trace analysis in materials

Neutron techniques to characterize materials have a wide range of applications, one of the major developments being the identification of terrorist threats with chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear and explosives (CBRNE) materials. In this work, a thermal neutron irradiation system, using a241Am/9Be source of 111 GBq inside polyethylene cylindrical moderators, has been designed, built and tested. The geometry of moderator and the neutron source position were fixed trying to maximize the thermal neutrons flux emitted from the system. Therefore, the system is in fact a thermalized neutron source taking advantage of the backscattered neutrons, achieving thermal fluence rates of up to 5.3x102 cm−2 s−1, with dominantly thermal spectra. Samples can be placed there for several hours and thereafter be measured to identify their component elements by NAA (Neutron Activation Analysis).Through Monte Carlo techniques employing the MCNP6 code (Pelowitz et al., 2014), four different configurations with polyethylene cylinders were simulated to choose the most adequate geometry. The theoretical model was then replicated in the neutronics hall of the Neutron Measurements Laboratory of the Energy Engineering Department of Universidad Politécnica de Madrid (LMN-UPM), carrying out experimental measurements using a BF3 neutron detector. A high agreement between MCNP6 results and the experimental values measured was observed.Consequently, the system developed could be employed in future laboratory experiments, both for the identification of trace substances by NAA and for the calibration of neutron detection equipment.

Alarming Cargo: Regulation and Control at the UK Border

ABSTRACT Programme CYCLAMEN was initiated to manage the risk of non-conventional terrorism in the United Kingdom following Al-Qaeda’s attacks against the United States in 2001. Under Programme CYCLAMEN, the UK developed a border monitoring capability to detect and deter the illicit cross-border movement of radiological and nuclear materials by malicious non-state actors. This paper examines the development of border monitoring technologies before and after 9/11 with a focus on Programme CYCLAMEN using two models of state response to terrorism. Under the Control Model, state agencies seek to manage the risk associated with terrorism through disruption of terrorist activities. Under the Regulatory Model, actions are conceptualised as safeguarding public health and safety from various sources of risk including terrorism. The Regulatory Model is found to be dominant before 9/11 but the Control Model dominated thereafter and Programme CYCLAMEN is best understood as emanating from the Control Model. However, earlier action under the Regulatory Model shaped later consideration of this particular border-based protective security measure. This paper explores this shaping process and concludes that the Regulatory Model is under-considered as a model of state response to terrorism.

Combating nuclear smuggling? Exploring drivers and challenges to detecting nuclear and radiological materials at maritime facilities

ABSTRACTInternational concern over nuclear terrorism has grown during the past few decades. This has driven a broad spectrum of efforts to strengthen nuclear security globally, including the widespread adoption of radiation-detection technology for border monitoring. Detection systems are now deployed at strategic locations for the purported purpose of detecting and deterring the smuggling of nuclear and radioactive materials. However, despite considerable investment in this area, few studies have examined how these programs are implemented or the operational challenges they face on a day-to-day basis. This article seeks to address this with a focus on radiation-detection efforts at maritime facilities. Utilizing practitioner interviews and a survey, this article identifies the factors that influence the planning and use of these systems in this fast-moving environment. The results clearly demonstrate that the implementation of these systems varies significantly across different national and organizational contexts, resulting in a fragmented global nuclear-detection architecture, which arguably undermines efforts to detect trafficked nuclear-threat materials. Greater consideration should therefore be given to developing international standards and guidance, designing and adopting tools to support key parts of the alarm assessment process, and broader sharing of good practice.