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Used radioactive material needs security

CHIANG MAI, Thailand, March 13 (UPI) -- Officials from the International Atomic Energy Agency said recently in Thailand that security for sealed radioactive sources must be improved.

Experts taking part in an IAEA workshop held in Thailand said that despite the diverse and important applications sealed radioactive sources have in medicine, agriculture and other industries, adequate security remains an ongoing challenge, the IAEA reported.

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Officials said countries using sealed radioactive sources often don't have appropriate storage and security infrastructure in place to manage spent radioactive material. Despite international tools designed to support the management of sealed radioactive sources, including the Joint Convention on the Safety of Radioactive Waste Management, more international cooperation is needed.

"There is a safety and security risk associated with these sources, which need to be managed and maintained under regulatory control even once their useful life is over," according to the IAEA Web site.

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