ITRAP - International Laboratory and Field Test Site Exercise for Radiation Detection Instruments and Monitoring Systems at Border Crossings

Description

Illicit trafficking in nuclear materials has become more and more a problem, due to the circulation of the high number of radioactive sources and the big amount of nuclear material. The IAEA data base counts a present more than 3000 verfied cases. The endagering cased thereby ranges from possible health defect for the publication to terrorists activities and production of nuclear weapons. In addition to the primary criminal reasons the illegal deposal of radioactive sources as salvage, scrap and others show a further problem, which has lead to severe accidents and lethal effects in the past. Some countries have already under taken countermeasures. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has reacted on this actual problem by setting up a new program to fight against nuclear criminality and has suggested a pilot study for the practical test of border monitoring systems. Co-ordinated by the Federal Ministry of Economy and Labour the Austrian Government financed the pilot study ITRAP (Illicit Trafficking Radiation Detection Assessment Program) carried out by the Austrian Research Centers Seibersdorf (ARCS). Aim of the study was to work out the technical requirements and the practicability of an useful monitoring system at border crossings. The results of the study will be offered by the IAEA to the member states as international recommendations for border monitoring systems.

Period	7 May 2001 → 11 May 2001
Event title	International Conference on Security of Material; Measures to Prevent, Intercept and Respond to Illicit Uses of Nuclear Material and Radioactive Sources
Event type	Other
Degree of Recognition	International