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                            Security of Radioactive Materials
    Security of Radioactive Materials Jump To:
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                    Issue Summary
    Radioactive materials are used throughout the United States for medical, industrial, and research purposes. For instance, these materials help treat cancer, sterilize food and medical instruments, and detect flaws in metal welds. However, these materials could also be very dangerous in the hands of terrorists.

Several federal agencies play key roles in assuring that radioactive materials stay out of the hands of terrorists. For instance, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC), the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA), and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) have all taken steps to improve the security of some sources of radioactive materials at medical, industrial, and research facilities. Additionally, NNSA has partnered with 59 countries to provide radiation detection equipment and support to help prevent nuclear and radiological smuggling into the United States.

However, NRC could improve its efforts to secure radioactive materials by addressing some priority recommendations.

For example:

In the hands of terrorists, some radioactive materials could be used to construct a radiological dispersal device (i.e., a “dirty bomb”), which uses conventional explosives to disperse radioactive material. This type of bomb could expose nearby individuals to radiation and increase their long-term risks of cancer. The NRC considers the health risks from short-term radiation exposure when determining how to safeguard radioactive material. However, it should also consider factors such as deaths during an evacuation and the cost of environmental cleanup. Additionally, key NRC security requirements only apply to large quantities of radioactive material, even though both large and small amounts of material could produce many billions of dollars of socioeconomic damage.**A Radiological Dispersal Device**
(This is a fictional urban landscape and is not intended to represent any specific city or urban area.)

Image
              A Radiological Dispersal DeviceNRC has worked to ensure that licenses for radioactive materials are granted only to legitimate organizations, and that licensees can only obtain such materials in quantities allowed by their licenses. However, investigators set up fake businesses and were able to obtain genuine licenses to purchase dangerous quantities of radioactive material in 2007, 2016,and 2022.**Radioactive Material Delivered to GAO's Shell Companies**

Image
              Radioactive Material Delivered to GAO's Shell Companies

There are opportunities to permanently reduce the risks of radioactive material by making greater use of alternative technologies. However, no agency in the federal government has the lead on developing these technologies or encouraging their use. In fact, some agencies operate at cross purposes with each other. To address this,****Congress could consider establishing a national strategy for replacing technologies that use high-risk radioactive materials where there are viable alternatives.
	DHS’s Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction Office plays a key role in preventing radioactive material from getting in the hands of terrorists. However, this office has struggled to acquire newer technology needed to prevent the smuggling of radioactive and nuclear materials.**A CBP Radiation Detection Portal Monitor**

Image
              A CBP Radiation Detection Portal Monitor

  Recent Reports
          Priority Open Recommendations: Nuclear Regulatory CommissionGAO-23-106462
      
	Published:  May 10, 2023


	Publicly Released: May 17, 2023
                        Preventing a Dirty Bomb: Vulnerabilities Persist in NRC's Controls for Purchases of High-Risk Radioactive MaterialsGAO-22-103441
      
	Published:  Jul 14, 2022


	Publicly Released: Jul 21, 2022
                        Priority Open Recommendations: Nuclear Regulatory CommissionGAO-22-105602
      
	Published:  Jun 03, 2022


	Publicly Released: Jun 13, 2022
                        Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction: DHS Could Improve Its Acquisition of Key Technology and Coordination with PartnersGAO-22-104498
      
	Published:  Apr 19, 2022


	Publicly Released: Apr 19, 2022
                        Security of Radioactive MaterialsGAO-22-105498
      
	Published:  Apr 05, 2022


	Publicly Released: Apr 05, 2022
                        Alternatives to Radioactive Materials: A National Strategy to Support Alternative Technologies May Reduce Risks of a Dirty BombGAO-22-104113
      
	Published:  Oct 21, 2021


	Publicly Released: Oct 21, 2021
                        Combating Nuclear Terrorism: DHS Should Address Limitations to Its Program to Secure Key CitiesGAO-19-327
      
	Published:  May 13, 2019


	Publicly Released: May 13, 2019
                        Combating Nuclear Terrorism: NRC Needs to Take Additional Actions to Ensure the Security of High-Risk Radioactive MaterialGAO-19-468
      
	Published:  Apr 04, 2019


	Publicly Released: Apr 04, 2019
                        Nuclear Security: CBP Needs to Take Action to Ensure Imported Radiological Material Is Properly LicensedGAO-18-214
      
	Published:  Jan 10, 2018


	Publicly Released: Jan 10, 2018
                        Nuclear Security: NRC Has Enhanced the Controls of Dangerous Radioactive Materials, but Vulnerabilities RemainGAO-16-330
      
	Published:  Jul 01, 2016


	Publicly Released: Jul 15, 2016
                        Combating Nuclear Smuggling: NNSA's Detection and Deterrence Program Is Addressing Challenges but Should Improve Its Program Plan [Reissued on June 20, 2016]GAO-16-460
      
	Published:  Jun 17, 2016


	Publicly Released: Jun 20, 2016
                        Combating Nuclear Smuggling: Risk-Informed Covert Assessments and Oversight of Corrective Actions Could Strengthen Capabilities at the BorderGAO-14-826
      
	Published:  Sep 22, 2014


	Publicly Released: Oct 14, 2014
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                                                      MultimediaPodcasts
    
      Preventing A Dirty Bomb—Vulnerabilities Persist in Oversight of Licensing for Purchases of High-Risk Radioactive Materials
    Thursday, July 21, 2022
      
            Transcript
          The Nuclear Regulatory Commission and Security Risks
    Thursday, April 04, 2019
      
            Transcript
          Licensing Dangerous Radioactive Materials
    Friday, July 15, 2016
      
            Transcript
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              For Valentine’s Day – A GAO Love Song Mixtape
            Wednesday, February 14, 2018
      
            Valentine’s Day brings out our romantic side here at GAO. We’ve come up with a few musical...
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