Feb. 20 telephone news conference on high-risk radioisotopes in medical equipment

RADIATION SOURCE USE AND REPLACEMENT, a new report from the National Research Council, examines the use of high-risk radioactive materials found in medical and research equipment that could be accidentally dispersed or utilized to make a dirty bomb in a terrorist attack. The report also identifies lower-risk alternatives that would not change the performance of the devices, and recommends options to remove and replace the high-risk sources.

The report's findings and recommendations will be discussed during a one-hour telephone news conference beginning at noon EST on Wednesday, Feb. 20. Advance copies of the report will be available to reporters only beginning at 4 p.m. EST on Tuesday, Feb. 19. THE REPORT IS EMBARGOED AND NOT FOR PUBLIC RELEASE BEFORE NOON EST ON FEB. 20. To obtain a copy or to register for the telephone news conference, reporters should contact the National Academies' Office of News and Public Information; tel. 202-334-2138 or e-mail <news@nas.edu>.