On 22 November 2012, a type A package containing Cs-137 (54 GBq) triggered a radiation alarm at the Frankfurt airport, Germany. The package originated in Brisbane, Australia and was shipped on a passenger airplane via Dubai. The package examination found that one of the Cs-137 sources (18.5 GBq) transported in the package was found outside its shielded container but within the overpack and another source was lodged between the lid and body of the shielded container. The maximum dose rate on surface of the overpack was measured to be 33 mSv/hr and 0.94 mSv/hr at distance of 1m.
To estimate the potential dose to passengers on the flight from Brisbane to Frankfurt, conservative cargo hall and passenger deck configurations were considered. The result indicated that more than 10 people, both on board of the airplanes and the package handlers at respective airports, could have received effective whole body doses between approximately 3 and 6.6 mSv. These estimates are above the statutory annual dose limits for members of the public (1 mSv).
The Netherlands has agreed to allow Urenco to be used for the British military nuclear program. This clears the way for uranium enriched by Urenco to be used in nuclear weapons. With his decision, Foreign Minister Berendsen (CDA Christen Democrats) is departing from the principle that civilian and military nuclear applications must remain strictly separate. […]
Behnam Raeesian is an internationally recognized visual artist and poster designer from Iran, known for bold political and cultural works. Through exhibitions, workshops, jury roles, and collaborations with cultural institutions worldwide, he has built a strong voice in contemporary political graphic design. His projects confront complex issues such as nuclear risk and technological impact, transforming […]
Everywhere you look, the nuclear industry’s hype machine is in overdrive. Goldman Sachs, Microsoft, and the UK government all tout small modular reactors as the silver bullet for climate change and energy security. Tech billionaires are hiring nuclear veterans. Wall Street is whispering about “round-the-clock power” for artificial intelligence data centers. For those old enough […]
Kernenergie en veiligheid: A wargame sought to test if a major radiological release that would prompt the evacuation of millions of civilians in South Korea could distract key US allies from assisting and rebuffing an all-out military invasion of Taiwan. The short answer was yes. The game originally presumed that China, wanting to keep the […]
Big batteries and EVs to the rescue again as faults with new nuclear plant cause chaos on Nordic grids The Finnish nuclear power plant Olkiluoto was finally connected to the grid last year, at an estimated cost of €11 billion compared to the original budget of €3 billion. That cost blowout forced its developer, the […]
