New Technology Gives Bomb Squads the Upper Hand in the Fight Against Radiological or Nuclear Terrorism

Experts in the US Department of Homeland Security have determined that a possible threat exists for the detonation of Radiological Dispersion Device (RDD) and/or an Improvised Nuclear Device (IND) on US soil. Various US government agencies are currently procuring radiation monitoring systems to attempt to guard our homeland at locations such as border crossings, seaports, airports and post offices(1). These are common, commercially available radiation monitors capable of alarming if radioactive materials are present. Also, many law enforcement agencies are now providing officers with Radiation Pagers to detect potential terrorists devices(2). However, numerous materials present in legitimate commerce, such as kitty litter, ceramic tiles, fertilizer, and smoke alarms, may be slightly radioactive and can set off these radiation pagers or vehicle monitors. When an alarm is triggered, appropriate law enforcement or other response personnel must be able to quickly ascertain if the alarm was caused by a legitimate commercial radioactive source, a naturally-occurring radioactive material (NORM), or a potential terrorist weapon. To counter the threat of either a RDD (commonly referred to as a dirty bomb), an IND, or a small tactical nuclear device such as the Russian suitcase nuclear device, it is necessary to do a spectroscopic analysis of the suspicious package, container, or vehicle that caused the alarm.