Russian poisoning deaths shed light on radioactive dangers

We are of two minds regarding the recent spate of poisonings that just happen to afflict the enemies of the Russian state. On the one hand, death is a tragic thing, and of murder we can never approve. On the other hand, however, such tactics send us back nostalgically to the golden age of espionage that was the cold war, and deep in our heart we react to targeted assassination with the same spirit as when we hear a song from our youth. Oh Putin, how you take us back!

Nevertheless, the recent death of former Russian spy Alexander Litvinenko raises important issues, most notably the comparatively easy access to radioactive substances on the world market. Many are found in extremely small quantities in smoke detectors and other household goods, as well as in medical equipment. Yet while it is possible (but extremely unlikely) that a terrorist interested in poison might possibly fashion one out of thousands of smoke detectors (which contain a small amount of americium), it seems even more probable that he would obtain radioactive material from scientific supply companies.

As it stands now in the United States, for instance, almost anyone can buy americium, thorium, tritium, and even polonium by masquerading as a science company with a legitimate use. In addition, a recent report for the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs found that “with ease, investigators purchased, received and transported radioactive sources” into the United States from Mexico and Canada. Not that it would be easy to fashion a poison in this manner. According to a note on the Web site for Sandia Park, New Mexico-based United Nuclear, which sells polonium in amounts of .1 microcuries, one would have to order 15,000 units at a cost of $1 million in order to achieve the deadly effect recently achieved in London.

-read more in George Jahn’s AP Online report