National Academies' Study On Radioactive Sources And Alternative Technologies

The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine of the United States (the National Academies) were tasked by Sandia National Laboratories with assessing the status of medical, research, sterilization, and other industrial applications of radioactive sources and alternative technologies. The purpose of the study was to support existing and future activities under the National Nuclear Security Administration/Office of Radiological Security program to promote the use of alternative (non-radioisotope) technologies to high-risk radiological materials in commercial applications. The National Academies appointed an expert committee to carry out the study and prepare a technical report that is expected to be publicly released in late spring 2021. The National Academies’ study examined use of Category 1-3 sources, which are the top 3 categories of sources of the 5-category system designed by the International Atomic Energy Agency. For these sources, the study assessed domestic and international developments in their applications and availability or feasible alternative technologies. It also examined potential alternative technologies that are not yet deployed but are at various stages of development. The study used a previous National Academies’ report on the same topic (National Research Council. 2008. Radiation Source Use and Replacement: Abbreviated Version. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press) as a baseline to assess these developments.