Stolen, lost

Radiation materials went missing 168 times in 2023

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(Bild: P. Huber)

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) is calling for better protection when transporting radioactive material. Last year, 31 countries reported a total of 168 cases in which radioactive materials were stolen, lost or otherwise fell into the wrong hands. This is according to figures published by the IAEA on Monday at the start of a nuclear security conference in Vienna. This corresponds to the long-term average.

Since records began in 1993, there have been more than 4,200 incidents in total. According to the IAEA, more than half of all thefts occur during the transportation of radioactive material. This often involves irradiated metal waste, technical equipment fitted with radiation sources or medical goods. "Nuclear material and other radioactive substances are still vulnerable to security risks during transportation," warned Elena Buglova, head of the IAEA's Nuclear Safety Division.

Only a few cases with criminal intent
According to the IAEA, criminality is very rarely clearly involved when such hazardous material goes missing. Last year, only six incidents were linked to illegal trafficking or criminal intent. In most of the other cases, radioactive materials were disposed of or transported without the appropriate authorization, for example.

In recent years, the IAEA has recorded only a handful of criminal incidents, while the number of non-criminal cases has risen since the early 2000s.