Gothamist
A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.
Gothamist
Listen Live
News
NYC Hospitals Will Phase Out Radiological Devices That Could Be Used For Dirty Bomb
By
Libby Torres
Published Oct 12, 2017
Modified Oct 12, 2017
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
Never miss a story
Email address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .
Photo by David McNew/Getty Images
By
Libby Torres
Published Oct 12, 2017
Modified Oct 12, 2017
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
We rely on your support to make local news available to all
Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2026. Donate today
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
NYC officials are concerned that trace amounts of a radioactive material commonly found in hospitals could be used by terrorists to make a dirty bomb.
That's because many hospitals use irradiators containing a small amount of the isotope cesium-137, which is used in blood transfusions and cancer research, but also has the potential to be utilized by terrorists in a dirty bomb attack.
According to the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission, the explosion itself would be more immediately harmful than the cesium-137, but the contamination—and ensuing panic—caused by the presence of radioactive material would make for a chaotic and costly cleanup.
"If this were released in a high-density area, an area like the Financial District for example, the number of people who might be affected by a dirty bomb would be in the hundreds of thousands," NYC's Health Department Commissioner Dr. Mary Bassett told reporters at a press conference yesterday. Cesium-137 isotope bonds exceptionally well with concrete, so the affected area would be "no longer fit for human habitation." The medical effects and the sanitizing process would take years.
That's why Basset and officials from the U.S. Department of Energy met at Mt. Sinai hospital to announce their new plan to remove all cesium-137 irradiators from the New York area by 2020.
While Basset stressed that such a dirty bomb attack was "highly unlikely," but that the department's "goal is always to eliminate, where possible, serious risks to the public.
David Huizenga, who works as the acting deputy administrator for the Defense Nuclear Nonproliferation in the Department of Energy, said that new non-radioactive x-ray equipment had rendered the cesium-137 irradiators obsolete.
"You don't really have to make any sacrifices in terms of performance for research, or for safety," Huizenga said.
According to Huizenga, some cesium-137 irradiators have already been removed from New York area hospitals and replaced with alternative equipment. He estimated that it will cost approximately $250,000 for the removal and replacement of each irradiator, with the Department of Energy covering half of the cost, and individual hospitals responsible for the rest. There are about 28 devices left in the city.
Tagged
dirty bomb
hospitals
war on terror
Libby Torres
Read more
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
MORE news
Gatorade recall affects drinks sold in New York and New Jersey
More than 122,000 cases are being recalled over undeclared food dyes.
By
Giulia Heyward
Published Oct 5, 2026 at 4:36 p.m. ET
Gov. Hochul declares upstate NY measles outbreak a ‘disaster emergency’
The declaration is driven by rising case counts in rural areas and in neighboring Pennsylvania.
By
Caroline Lewis
News
Gov. Hochul declares upstate NY measles outbreak a ‘disaster emergency’
The declaration is driven by rising case counts in rural areas and in neighboring Pennsylvania.
By
Caroline Lewis
NYPD detective forced to retire after false statements in Brooklyn investigation
By
Charles Lane
Mamdani faces pressure to forge ahead with plan to fix polluting South Bronx market
By
Elizabeth Kim
Dominican man who shot border patrol officer in NYC sentenced to 15 years in prison
By
Samantha Max
Never miss a story
Catch up on the most important headlines with a roundup of essential NYC stories, delivered to your inbox daily.
Sign upEmail address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .