What are “orphan” radioactive sources?
Radioactive sources that are outside of regulatory control are called “orphan sources” for short. They may never have been subject to regulation, or they may have been regulated initially but then were abandoned, lost, misplaced, stolen, or removed without authorization. Some sources may not be formally “orphaned” but their control may be weak and therefore vulnerable to being mishandled or lost. Through its efforts to help countries improve their national infrastructures for radiation safety and security, the IAEA has found that more than 100 countries (not all of them IAEA Member States) may have inadequate control and monitoring programmes necessary to prevent or even detect the theft of radiation sources. Half of these countries with urgent needs – 52 in Africa, Asia, Latin America, and Europe – are making progress through an IAEA project to strengthen their capabilities to control and regulate radioactive sources.
