WASHINGTON — The U.S. Homeland Security Department has deployed more than 1,000 cargo-scanning radiation detectors around the country, but until late last year none could be found at the nation’s airports (see GSN, Sept. 11, 2008).

That changed in September with installation of a radiation portal monitor at Dulles International Airport near Washington, D.C. Another three machines are due to be deployed at unspecified airports this spring and ultimately 30 sites that handle 99 percent of all U.S. airborne cargo could receive the technology.

The intent is to prevent a nuclear or radiological weapon from being smuggled into the country through an airport. It is part of a larger DHS effort that has placed about 1,120 portal units at U.S. seaports and border crossings since 2001.

 

http://gsn.nti.org/gsn/nw_20090130_1559.php