The National Nuclear Security Administration’s Office of Radiological Security and Jordan’s Energy and Minerals Regulatory Commission have eliminated the Middle Eastern nation’s reliance on radioactive materials for human blood research and testing.
With the NNSA’s help, Jordan has now replaced all high-activity cesium-137 irradiators with X-ray technology, the agency said in an Oct. 30 statement.
A recent project at the Jordan University Hospital-Cell Therapy Center resulted in Jordan now solely using X-rays for blood irradiation and research, “reducing the risk of radiological terrorism and potential hazards from ionizing radiation exposure to both individuals and the environment,” the NNSA said.
“We value our long-term partnership with Jordan and commend everyone involved for making the transition to X-ray technology, which offers permanent risk reduction and increased blood throughput for medical purposes,” said Corey Hinderstein, NNSA’s deputy administrator for Defense Nuclear Nonproliferation.
Cesium-137, a gamma-ray emitter, is a potentially nasty fission byproduct that could be used by a bad actor to craft a radiological dispersal device — a rig that uses conventional explosives to spread radioactive material, commonly referred to as a dirty bomb.
It also poses a risk to workers operating cesium-137 irradiators. In 2019, 13 people and all seven floors of the University of Washington’s Research and Training Building at Harborview Medical Center when the cesium-137 source of a blood irradiator was accidentally breached during removal.
Kristin Hirsch, director of the Office of Radiological Security, said Jordan’s commitment to reducing radiological risk serves as a great example for other countries in the region and around the world to do the same.
NNSA’s Office of Radiological Security (ORS) has partnered with Jordan’s Energy and Minerals Regulatory Commission for more than 20 years beginning with ORS providing security systems for the cesium-based irradiators that have now been replaced.
To aid in the transition, ORS assisted with procurement and installation of the X-ray irradiators and the removal and secure storage of the cesium-137 sources.
The effort was also supported by a donation from the U.K. Department of Business, Energy, and Industrial Strategy, now known as the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero.
“EMRC greatly appreciates the partnership and support provided by NNSA’s Office of Radiological Security during Jordan’s recent adoption of X-ray technology for blood irradiation,” said Chief Commissioner/Chief Executive Office Engineer Zeyad Al Saaydeh. “Our agencies worked collaboratively throughout the entire process, and we look forward to future collaborations to support regional and global adaptation of alternative technologies.”
