A coalition of U.S. public health, medical, and nuclear nonproliferation groups is urging Congress to restrict the use of imported molybdenum-99 (Mo-99) from Russia, which uses bomb-grade uranium to produce the radioisotope.
The letter also asks lawmakers to amend S 99, the American Medical Isotopes Production Act of 2011, to minimize global commercial use of bomb-grade, highly enriched uranium (HEU) to reduce risks of nuclear terrorism and nuclear proliferation. The group continues to support the development of a reliable supply of medical radioisotopes derived from Mo-99 by promoting U.S. production without HEU.
S 99 was passed by the U.S. Senate in November 2011.
The coalition includes physicians and scientists from Emory University, Columbia University Medical Center, the American Public Health Association, Union of Concerned Scientists, the Arms Control Association, Global Green USA, Council for a Livable World, and the Nuclear Proliferation Prevention Project at the University of Texas at Austin.
