Review and assessment of national efforts to manage radioactive sources and enhance nuclear security measures in Lebanon

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
F. Malak ◽  
R. Baydoun ◽  
K. Zahraman ◽  
D. Dimitrov ◽  
B. Nsouli
Keyword(s):  
Nuclear Weapons ◽  
Nuclear Material ◽  
Security Measures ◽  
Radioactive Materials ◽  
Energy Agency ◽  
Nuclear Terrorism ◽  
Security Regime ◽  
Nuclear Security ◽  
The World ◽  
Long Time

Radioactive and nuclear materials have been used for a long time in warfare. During the 20th and 21st centuries, a large number of atmospheric and underground nuclear weapons tests were carried out, even after the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons Treaty (NPT), leading to ecologically and socially destroyed sites. The most recent ones were in North Korea and Russia. With the widespread of peaceful use of radiological and nuclear material, the threats of nuclear terrorism or malicious use of these materials have become major concern across the world. Although the issuing of the Physical Protection of Nuclear Material treaty in 1997 (CPPNM), a considerable number of incidents involving radioactive materials due to unauthorized access or use were reported to the Incident and Trafficking Database (ITDB) system of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). In Lebanon, radioactive materials are vastly used in medicine, industry, research and agriculture. As a consequence, our country is facing the world common concerns and threats, especially after recent security status and geopolitical situation in the region. This work served to evaluate the current national situation relevant to nuclear security, where strong and weak points, pertinent to legal texts and procedures, were highlighted in order to deduce essential recommendations that could help in strengthening national security regime. The exerted governmental efforts were presented and discussed.

scholarly journals The Carter Administration and the Evolution of American Nuclear Nonproliferation Policy, 1977–1981

2002 ◽  
Vol 14 (3) ◽  
pp. 261-292 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. Michael Martinez
Keyword(s):  
Soviet Union ◽  
Nuclear Weapons ◽  
Nuclear Nonproliferation ◽  
Nuclear Testing ◽  
Energy Agency ◽  
The Soviet Union ◽  
Subsequent Response ◽  
The World ◽  
Uncertain Time ◽  
First Time

In the wake of India's May 1998 decision to resume nuclear testing for the first time since 1974, as well as arch-rival Pakistan's subsequent response, the attention of the world again has focused on nuclear nonproliferation policy as a means of maintaining stability in politically troubled regions of the world. The 1990s proved to be an uncertain time for nonproliferation policy. Pakistan acquired nuclear capabilities. Iraq displayed its well-known intransigence by refusing to allow International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) arms inspectors access to facilities suspected of manufacturing nuclear weapons. North Korea maintained a nuclear weapons program despite opposition from many Western nations. Troubling questions about nuclear holdings persisted in Argentina, Brazil, and South Africa. New nuclear powers were created in Belarus, Kazakhstan, Russia, and Ukraine after the disintegration of the Soviet Union. Even the renewal of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons in 1995 failed to assuage the concerns of Western powers fearful of aggressive measures undertaken by rogue nuclear proliferants.

scholarly journals The Efficacy of the Global Nuclear Security Legal Regime and States’ Implementation Capacity in Light of the Forthcoming Development of Advanced Nuclear Reactor Technologies

Nuclear Law ◽  
2022 ◽  
pp. 161-171
Author(s):  
Bonnie Denise Jenkins
Keyword(s):  
Nuclear Reactor ◽  
Nuclear Material ◽  
Legal Framework ◽  
Nuclear Facilities ◽  
Legal Regime ◽  
Energy Agency ◽  
Physical Protection ◽  
Regulatory Standards ◽  
Nuclear Security ◽  
Implementation Capacity

AbstractThe forthcoming arrival of small modular reactors and other advanced nuclear reactor technologies can be an immensely beneficial development in the world’s collective pursuit of energy security and meeting climate change objectives. The key question is whether or not these new reactor technologies significantly alter the fundamental premises underlying the existing nuclear security legal regime. The Convention on the Physical Protection of Nuclear Material and its Amendment (A/CPPNM) are the only legally binding international instruments governing the physical protection of nuclear materials and nuclear facilities. Together the A/CPPNM and the international guidance on nuclear security comprise the current legal framework for nuclear security. This chapter examines whether the A/CPPNM adequately covers advanced reactor technologies; and whether the States that are interested in acquiring these new reactor technologies have the capacity to effectively implement the associated legal requirements, regulatory standards, and international guidance that comes along with such technologies. The analysis touches upon the role of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), the IAEA Nuclear Security Guidance, and issues of cybersecurity.

7. Reflections on the Atomic Age

2015 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joseph M. Siracusa
Keyword(s):  
Cold War ◽  
Nuclear Weapons ◽  
Mass Destruction ◽  
Atomic Age ◽  
Global Security ◽  
Nuclear Terrorism ◽  
Regional Conflict ◽  
The World ◽  
The Future ◽  
The Cold War

Does the spread of nuclear weapons make the world safer or more dangerous? ‘Reflections on the Atomic Age’ considers this debate's relevance now and in the future. The clarity of the Cold War world has given way to the ambiguities and uncertainties of a world where global security is threatened by regime collapse, nuclear terrorism, new nuclear weapons states, regional conflict, and pre-existing nuclear arsenals. The prediction of mass destruction has so far proved false, but is that because of effective efforts to stop the spread of nuclear weapons, or is it just luck?

scholarly journals Nuclear terrorism: Assessment of the danger of Nuclear Power Plant air strikes

2021 ◽  
Vol 2021 (3) ◽  
pp. 39-46
Author(s):  
A. Metelkov
Keyword(s):  
Nuclear Power ◽  
Power Plants ◽  
Nuclear Power Plants ◽  
Energy Use ◽  
Security Measures ◽  
Nuclear Facilities ◽  
Nuclear Terrorism ◽  
Extreme Loads ◽  
Urgent Task ◽  
Nuclear Security

The article analyzes the problem of possible threats with the use of aircraft captured by terrorists or controlled unmanned aerial vehicles in relation to nuclear energy use facilities. In the context of preventing acts of nuclear terrorism, the urgent task is to protect nuclear facilities from deliberate attacks by civilian airliners operated by terrorists. On the basis of the materials of publications, the influence of external extreme loads acting on the design of nuclear power plants, their features during the fall of aircraft of different types is studied. As a conclusion, the author notes that improving the safety of nuclear power plants and other radiation-hazardous facilities, minimizing possible consequences from aircraft strikes are important areas in risk management and their protection from acts of nuclear terrorism by combining organizational measures to combat terrorism and nuclear security measures.

Creating the Nuclear Wasteland

2008 ◽  
Author(s):  
Howard G. Wilshire ◽  
Richard W. Hazlett ◽  
Jane E. Nielson
Keyword(s):  
World War Ii ◽  
Nuclear Weapons ◽  
Department Of Energy ◽  
Nuclear Forces ◽  
Nuclear War ◽  
Radioactive Materials ◽  
Atomic Weapons ◽  
The World ◽  
National Boundaries ◽  
Dirty Bombs

“At the heart of the matter nuclear weapons are simply the enemy of humanity”— retired U.S. Air Force General Lee Butler, former Commander of Strategic Nuclear Forces, spoke these words in his testimony to a 1999 Joint Senate–House Committee on Foreign Affairs. They probably express the deep feelings of most of the world’s people, including most Americans. Towering mushroom blast clouds and the shapes of atomic weapons are common symbols of doom. The specter of nuclear weapons in the hands of terrorists haunts us, and the possibility of attacks on U.S. citizens with “dirty bombs”—a bomb made of conventional explosives that scatters radioactive materials—raises major concerns. As it should. Nuclear weapons and the nuclear waste that they generate truly are destructive to all life and must be controlled. If we fail to prevent their proliferation in the world and stop generating them ourselves, they could destroy us without respect for national boundaries—even without a real nuclear war or dirty bomb terrorist attacks. They already have poisoned great expanses of American lands from coast to coast. American soil, water, and air started accumulating radioactive pollution during the World War II race to build an atom bomb. Radioactive contaminants spread into the environment at every step in the process, from mining the uranium for bomb fuel and purifying and enriching the uranium to make plutonium, to detonating bombs to test them and disposing of the wastes. Radioactive materials currently contaminate buildings, soil, sediment, rock, and underground or surface water within more than two million acres administered by the U.S. Department of Energy in the 11 western states. All sorts of Americans were carelessly exposed to radioactive bomb fuels during WWII and the Cold War, but especially the atomic scientists, uranium miners, and bomb plant workers who were exposed to them every day. For nearly two decades, U.S. atomic bombs blew up and contaminated American lands. Both American soldiers at the test grounds and civilians on ranches or farms and in homes were exposed to the dangerous radioactive fallout (see appendix 5). Perhaps unknown to most Americans is the fact that radioactive contamination from U.S. atomic weapons tests also spread across the whole country and far beyond U.S. borders.

Unveiling the history of seized plutonium through nuclear forensic investigations

2009 ◽  
Vol 97 (4-5) ◽  
Author(s):  
Klaus Mayer ◽  
Maria Wallenius ◽  
M. Hedberg ◽  
Klaus Lützenkirchen
Keyword(s):  
Age Determination ◽  
Nuclear Material ◽  
Radioactive Material ◽  
Radioactive Materials ◽  
Nuclear Terrorism ◽  
History Of ◽  
Illicit Trafficking ◽  
Nuclear Forensic ◽  
Intended Use

AbstractIllicit incidents involving nuclear or other radioactive materials and the threat of nuclear terrorism are reasons for serious concern. Since 1993 more than 1300 incidents have been reported to the IAEA Illicit Trafficking Database. Only a small number of cases involve plutonium or plutonium containing materials. However, these cases are attributed particular attention in view of the proliferation aspects and of the radiotoxicity associated with plutonium. Efforts focus on prevention, detection and response to cases of illicit trafficking of nuclear material. If the place of theft or diversion of the material can be identified, then measures of safeguards and physical protection can be implemented to prevent future thefts.Nuclear Forensic Science aims at providing clues on the origin and intended use of nuclear or other radioactive material involved in illicit incidents. The paper provides a brief description of the nuclear forensic methodology and describes in detail the challenges associated with age determination of plutonium materials.

scholarly journals Nuclear terrorism and virtual risk: Implications for prediction and the utility of models

2017 ◽  
Vol 2 (2) ◽  
pp. 203-222
Author(s):  
Robert J. Downes ◽  
Christopher Hobbs
Keyword(s):  
Numerical Models ◽  
Terrorist Attack ◽  
Quantitative Measure ◽  
Historical Record ◽  
Security Measures ◽  
Nuclear Terrorism ◽  
Alternative Perspective ◽  
Nuclear Security ◽  
Base Analysis ◽  
Defensive Measures

AbstractAssessing the risk of nuclear terrorism is a challenging task due to the diversity of actors involved, variety of pathways to success, range of defensive measures employed, and the lack of detailed historical record upon which to base analysis. Numerical models developed to date vary wildly in both approach and ultimate assessment: estimates of the likelihood a nuclear terrorist attack differ by up to nine orders of magnitude. This article critiques existing efforts from the standpoint of probability theory, and proposes an alternative perspective on the utility of risk assessment in this area. Nuclear terrorism is argued to be a ‘virtual risk’ for which it is not possible to meaningfully ascribe a quantitative measure, making numerical estimates of the likelihood of nuclear terrorism misleading. Instead, we argue that focus should be placed on utilising models to identify areas of disagreement as targets for further research, with greater emphasis on understanding terrorist decision-making and adaption in response to nuclear security measures.

scholarly journals ANÁLISES DE AMOSTRAS AMBIENTAIS PARA FINS DE SALVAGUARDAS NUCLEARES NO BRASIL

Química Nova ◽  
2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Carina Lisbôa ◽  
Olívio Oliveira Júnior ◽  
Delvonei Andrade
Keyword(s):  
Isotopic Composition ◽  
International Atomic Energy Agency ◽  
Nuclear Weapons ◽  
Environmental Samples ◽  
Nuclear Material ◽  
Atomic Energy ◽  
Nuclear Safeguards ◽  
Nuclear Materials ◽  
Energy Agency ◽  
Highly Sensitive

ANALYSIS OF ENVIRONMENTAL SAMPLES FOR NUCLEAR SAFEGUARDS PURPOSES IN BRAZIL. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) is responsible for preventing the proliferation of nuclear weapons by detecting early the misuse of nuclear material or technology, and by certifying that States are honouring their safeguards obligations.The analysis of environmental samples taken by IAEA inspectors during inspections is a powerful tool for nuclear safeguards. This tool was implemented in 1996, after a successful application in Iraq, when a clandestine nuclear weapons program was discovered. The science involved in this type of analysis depends on highly sensitive and selective analytical measurements for detecting traces of nuclear materials collected in the nuclear facility’s “environment”. The purposes of this article are to draw attention to the relevance of this subject in order to address a significant global problem and to present what have been developed in Brazil. Through compatible results with certified standards and IAEA requirements, Brazil has already demonstrated the potential of measuring the amount and isotopic composition of uranium and plutonium at the levels expected in typical environmental samples. Finally, this work suggests the necessary measurements to implement a reliable and consistent environmental samples program for nuclear safeguards in Brazil.

Inter-country inequality as a dynamic process and the problem of post-industrial development

2018 ◽  
pp. 5-29 ◽  
Author(s):  
L. M. Grigoryev ◽  
V. A. Pavlyushina
Keyword(s):  
Economic Growth ◽  
Political Institutions ◽  
Industrial Development ◽  
Modern World ◽  
New Approach ◽  
Development Level ◽  
The World ◽  
Long Time ◽  
The Difference ◽  
Post Industrial

The phenomenon of economic growth is studied by economists and statisticians in various aspects for a long time. Economic theory is devoted to assessing factors of growth in the tradition of R. Solow, R. Barrow, W. Easterly and others. During the last quarter of the century, however, the institutionalists, namely D. North, D. Wallis, B. Weingast as well as D. Acemoglu and J. Robinson, have shown the complexity of the problem of development on the part of socioeconomic and political institutions. As a result, solving the problem of how economic growth affects inequality between countries has proved extremely difficult. The modern world is very diverse in terms of development level, and the article offers a new approach to the formation of the idea of stylized facts using cluster analysis. The existing statistics allows to estimate on a unified basis the level of GDP production by 174 countries of the world for 1992—2016. The article presents a structured picture of the world: the distribution of countries in seven clusters, different in levels of development. During the period under review, there was a strong per capita GDP growth in PPP in the middle of the distribution, poverty in various countries declined markedly. At the same time, in 1992—2016, the difference increased not only between rich and poor groups of countries, but also between clusters.

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