UCI free of ‘dirty’ bomb resources

Deirdre Newman

UC IRVINE -- Radioactive material used on the campus would not prove

useful in building a “dirty” bomb such as one U.S. officials suspect was

being created by an alleged terrorist, a school official said Wednesday.

Universities were thrust into the spotlight after one suspect accused

of plotting to create such a bomb said he was targeting colleges to

obtain the radioactive material. A “dirty” bomb is a traditional bomb

encased in radioactive waste that makes it more lethal.

While UC Irvine employs a nuclear reactor and uses radioactive

material in its biology, chemistry and medical laboratories, the potency

of these resources is not high enough to create much damage, said Tom

Vasich, assistant director of science and technology communications.

“There is not enough radioactive materials used in research for an

effective ‘dirty’ bomb, and even the strength [of the material] is not

effective,” Vasich said.

The university’s nuclear reactor, which has been used to measure such

diverse elements as the lead content of the bullet that killed President

John F. Kennedy and mercury levels in ancient specimens of swordfish does

not generate any waste. Since the fuel is not capable of exploding, it is

unusable for any weapon purposes. When the reactor is running, it

produces only 250 kilowatts of energy, so the fuel rods that were

installed in 1968 are still going strong, Vasich said.

The materials used in the labs have such low levels of radioactivity

that the people who use and transport them don’t need to wear any special

clothing besides rubber gloves.

After its use, the material is stored in a state-of-the-art waste

facility with thick concrete walls, Vasich said. In addition, the

university was in the middle of installing an alarm system in the

building before news of the suspect’s bomb plot came to light.

The university also has an environmental health and safety office that

oversees the handling and disposal of radioactive materials. The office’s

staff is doubling the enforcement of the waste facility to make it even

more impenetrable, he said.

“We’re still very concerned about security,” Vasich said, “because

federal laws need to be followed and because it is uranium, which is a

volatile substance, and not material the general public should be

handling.”

* Deirdre Newman covers education. She may be reached at (949)

574-4221 or by e-mail at o7 deirdre.newman@latimes.comf7 .