own
USA
Radioactive Materials Transported
by Cargo Ship
Almost half of incoming cargo to the United States arrives by containers onboard ships. Within the U.S.,
American merchant marine ships provide essential services to 41 States. While the chances of a
transportation accident are small, an accident can result in expensive cleanup or unnecessary exposure to
radioactive material to workers or the public. Since we cannot predict transportation accidents, strict
packaging requirements are used in the shipment of radioactive material to ensure that even if there is an
accident, radioactive material spills or releases do not occur.
Radioactive materials that are used in medical applications - radiopharmaceuticals and radioisotopes - are the
most frequently shipped radioactive materials in the United States. Other shipments include low- and high-
level radioactive waste, uranium fuel for nuclear power plants, and various gauges and devices for industrial, medical
and academic institutions.
Who is protecting you
The States
In the United States, each state has programs on radiation protection and on the transportation of hazardous
materials.
U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS)
The DHS Office of Customs and Border Protection operates programs to monitor U.S. Ports of Entry for
radioactive material that could pose a threat to the national security.
The DHS Coast Guard is responsible for investigating any ship at sea that has been identified as potentially
posing a radiation threat.
U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC)
The NRC is responsible for protecting the public from the effects of radiation from nuclear reactors, materials,
and waste facilities. Regulating the safety of transported radioactive material is the joint responsibility of the
NRC and the Department of Transportation (DOT). The NRC oversees the design and use of special
packaging for shipping radioactive materials.
U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT)
DOT oversees transportation safety and security requirements by highway, rail, air and sea. DOT's Office of
Hazardous Materials Safety (OHM) issues regulations on the shipment of hazardous materials. Title 49 of the
Code of Federal Regulations defines and classifies hazardous materials, outlines safety procedures for
shipping, and provides strict specifications for containers and packaging of the hazardous materials.
United States Environmental Protection Agency
Office of Radiation and Indoor Air (6608J) | EPA 402-F-06-025
April 2006
www.epa.gov/radtown/cargo-ship.html
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RadTown USA
What can you do to protect yourself
Stringent rules apply to the transportation of radioactive materials by cargo containers, and technology
continues to enhance the safety measures being used to keep the public safe. With these rules and safety
measures, the risk to the public is very small.
If you do suspect radioactive material may be potentially released from a transportation accident or breached
packaging, there are three basic ways to limit unnecessary exposure:
• Time: Limit the time spent around the radiation source.
• Distance: Increase distance from the radiation source.
• Shielding: Increase the shielding from a radiation source with protective barriers such as walls and
buildings. Alpha radiation can be effectively shielded with something as thin as a piece of paper or
plastic bag while gamma radiation requires barriers as thick as lead-lined walls.
Resources
You can explore this radiation source further through the resources at the following URL:
http://www.epa.gov/radtown/cargo-ship.htmtfresources
We provide these resources on-line rather than here so we can keep the links up-to-date.
United States Environmental Protection Agency
Office of Radiation and Indoor Air (6608J) | EPA 402-F-06-025
April 2006
www.epa.gov/radtown/cargo-ship.html
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