March 12, 2002

Inspection of the Accountability and Control of Sealed Radioactive Sources at Selected Department of Energy Sites

Sealed radioactive sources consist of radioactive material either contained within a sealed capsule, sealed between layers of non-radioactive material, or firmly fixed to a non-radioactive surface. Statistics in the United States Radiation Accident Registry show that of the 246 major radiation accidents in the United States between 1944 and 2000, 110 were caused by sealed radioactive sources.