Denial of shipment of radioactive material

Abstract

Radioactive sources are used globally in a wide range of beneficial applications in the health care industry, in industrial exploration and development, as well as in basic scientific research and discovery. In fact, some 45% of the world’s medical disposable products are gamma sterilised using cobalt-60 in processing plants located around the world. Other vital applications such as cancer treatment, nuclear medicine, oil exploration and industrial radiography routinely and extensively use radioactive sources. In addition, radionuclides and radiopharmaceuticals are used tens of millions of times every year in the diagnosis and treatment of disease in patients globally. The ability to use such radioactive materials in these sectors is dependent on their safe and secure transport both within and between countries, to ensure that both developing and developed countries have access to this technology in a timely and cost effective manner. However, delay and/or denial of shipment of radioactive materials is having a negative impact on the timely availability of this safe and beneficial technology. What are some of the key reasons for denial of shipment? How serious is this issue and what is its impact on industry and the public? What are international agencies, non-government organisations, regulators and industry doing about it? In 2009 and 2010, International Source Suppliers and Producers Association chaired the International Steering Committee on the Denial of Shipment of Radioactive Material. What are some of the key actions that the International Steering Committee has undertaken? What accomplishments have been achieved and what areas still require international effort among key stakeholders? This paper provides industry perspectives on how the issues causing denial of shipment can be addressed, and how dealing with the root causes of denials will have marked positive impact on the industry and public who rely on them each and every day. Further, this paper provides some examples to show how International Source Suppliers and Producers Association and other industry associations such as Industrial Irradiation Association, Council on Radionuclides and Radiopharmaceuticals and Association of Imaging Producers and Equipment Suppliers have and will continue to be actively involved in addressing this issue.

Keywords:

• Denial of shipment of radioactive material

Notes

This paper received one of three Aoki Awards for best oral presentation at PATRAM 2010