What are the security risks of shipping radioactive materials across international borders?
Currently, the majority of Moly-99 is made using highly-enriched uranium-235 (U-235). Some politicians and activist groups have expressed concerns that if these materials fall into the wrong hands, they could be used for potentially destructive purposes. However, these radioactive materials are extremely well-guarded. Once Moly-99 and Tc-99m arrives at a hospital or radiopharmacy, a very limited number of people have access to these materials, which are locked in secure locations. While it is possible to produce Moly-99 with low-enriched uranium (LEU), there is no large-scale, commercial operation that has developed and demonstrated the ability to create medical isotopes with LEU on a scale sufficient to meet patient demand. That is why policymakers must provide sufficient funding and allow adequate time to facilitate the transition from HEU to LEU with minimal disruptions to patient care. What are the environmental risks surrounding the aging reactors? Officials at Chalk River and oth
