title: Evolving societal risks and necessary precautions in the age of nuclear power and therapeutic radiation: an American perspective.
abstract: Terrorism involving nuclear or radiologic weapons can devastate populations, city infrastructures, and entire sociopolitical systems. In our age of nuclear medicine and therapeutic radiation delivery, the unauthorized and illegal acquisition of radioactive materials needed for such an attack is always a possibility and risk. Physicians handling high-energy isotopes for medical radiotherapy must be aware of the basic security requirements as outlined by the Nuclear Regulation Commission, which include background checks and authorized access, physical protection during radionuclide use, and physical protection during its transit. The Leksell Gamma Knife and its Category 1 cobalt-60 radioactive source are discussed because of their significant potential for deployment in a weaponized device. Although this article presents a perspective relating to American rules and regulations, these precautions are applicable anywhere that similar situations exist. Understanding these materials and the security they require is essential to preventing the disastrous outcomes should these isotopes fall into terrorists' hands.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Keck School of Medicine, Los Angeles, USA. Electronic address: martin.pham@usc.edu.
authors.forename: Martin H
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Pham
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Keck School of Medicine, Los Angeles, USA; Department of Radiation Physics, Keck Hospital of USC, Los Angeles, California, USA.
authors.forename: Cheng
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.affiliation: Gamma Unit, Keck Hospital of USC, Los Angeles, California, USA.
authors.forename: Mairead
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rusch
authors.affiliation: Security Operations, Keck Hospital of USC, Los Angeles, California, USA.
authors.forename: Charles
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Holloway
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiation Oncology, Keck School of Medicine, Los Angeles, USA.
authors.forename: Eric
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Chang
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Keck School of Medicine, Los Angeles, USA.
authors.forename: Michael L J
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Apuzzo
mesh_terms: D003037:Cobalt Radioisotopes; D006801:Humans; D054043:Nuclear Weapons; D011835:Radiation Protection; D011868:Radioisotopes; D016634:Radiosurgery; D011878:Radiotherapy / Q000639:trends*; D012449:Safety; D012637:Security Measures; D023481:Terrorism / Q000517:prevention & control*
chemical_list: D003037:Cobalt Radioisotopes; D011868:Radioisotopes
keywords: Dirty bomb; Gamma Knife; Nuclear weapon; Radiation dispersion device; Radiosurgery; Terrorism