'Dirty bomb' threat at hospitals remains, GAO report says

'Dirty bomb' threat at hospitals remains, GAO report says
By ANNE GEARAN
The Washington Post
Published: September 10, 2012

WASHINGTON — Federal regulators have failed to implement safeguards to secure radiological materials that could be used in a "dirty bomb" at nearly four out of every five high-risk hospitals and medical facilities nationwide, according to a draft report by congressional investigators.

Eleven years after the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks focused attention on the possibility that terrorists could use crude nuclear devices, the analysis by the Government Accountability Office described numerous instances of failure to secure highly radioactive material at hospitals.

"Medical facilities currently are not required to take any specific actions to make sure these materials are safe, and many have very sloppy practices, which is remarkable nearly 11 years after 9/11," according to a copy of the draft scheduled for release Tuesday and provided to The Washington Post.
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