Radiation Portal Monitors Explained
Posted on Fri, Feb 17, 2012 @ 09:06 AM
The job of a radiation portal monitor (RPM) is to detect dangerous materials that could be carried in vehicles of all sorts. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has to make sure the cargo that is traveling into the country is not illegal or harmful, and the use of radiation portal monitors can make this task feasible without being intrusive.
The following is a list of just a few of the harmful items that a radiation portal monitor is able to detect:
- Dirty bombs
- Nuclear devices
- Certain isotopes found in medicine
How Does the Radiation Portal Monitor Work?
The device works by simply detecting the radiation that all of these materials tend to emit. It is crucial since CBP has a duty to protect citizens from harmful and illegal items. At the same time, no one wants to interrupt the flow of cargo as it travels to its destination, which is what stopping and searching every vehicle would do.
CBP is expected to do everything possible to prevent large-scale disasters that involve nuclear or radiological devices. Since 9/11, there has been a struggle to thwart the efforts of terrorists without taking away the rights of citizens, which is where the radiation portal monitor comes in. It does not create images of the cargo inside trucks, planes, and ships. Instead, it is sensitive to the kind of energy that radioactive sources emit, causing it to alert officials so they can look into the matter further. In many cases, perfectly harmless or natural items emit some degree of radiation, which is why alerts always need to be investigated before any action is taken.
Where Are Radiation Portal Monitors Found?
Radiation portal monitors do not just target one kind of vehicle. The CBP has installed them in areas near the country’s borders, as well as at ports where ships frequently dock. There are also radiation portal monitors at international airports, in addition to places that send and receive mail and packages internationally. In general, there are radiation portal monitors anywhere that products and people are likely to come in and out of the country.
Is the Device Safe?
Some people are concerned by the name of this device. The name may contain radiation, but the device does not, as it is only meant to detect it. This means you do not need to be cautious when in proximity to radiation portal monitors. In fact, these devices can be found in hospitals to ensure that all radioactive materials stay inside. The point of radiation portal monitors is to protect everyone from items containing radiological materials, not hurt people.
CBP has been using radiation portal monitors for years without issue. All packages that come into the U.S. are screened. In fact, personal vehicles are also screened when they pass the radiation portal monitors set up at the northern and southern borders of the country. This means that no one in particular is targeted, as all vehicles are treated equally by radiation portal monitors.