PNNL working with medical isotope producers to ensure continued effectiveness of nuclear explosion monitoring

Medical isotopes are used daily around the world to visualize and diagnose cancer, heart disease and other serious ailments. However, the production of these lifesaving medical isotopes can emit gasses that, while posing no danger to the public, have features that look similar to those produced by a nuclear explosion.

The Department of Energy’s Pacific Northwest National Laboratory is working with production facilities around the world to install monitors that will help understand more about the levels and timing of these emissions. Using that information, governments and agencies watching for signatures of nuclear explosions can more easily assess their readings and ensure emissions from medical isotope production are not misinterpreted.

To read more please visit: https://www.pnnl.gov/news/release.aspx?id=4536

Source: Pacific Northwest National laboratory