Millions of radioactive sealed sources are used around the world for legitimate and beneficial commercial applications such as cancer treatment, food and blood sterilization, oil exploration, remote electricity generation, radiography, and scientific research.  These applications use isotopes that could be used to make a radiological dirty bomb.

Many of these radiological sources at sites around the world are no longer needed and have been abandoned or orphaned; others are poorly guarded, creating a significant risk of theft or sabotage.  NNSA is working to remove or secure significant quantities of excess, vulnerable radiological materials that exist worldwide and could be used to make a dirty bomb.