The mobile laboratory is a shared resource between the Environmental Protection Service and the Nuclear Forensic Laboratory. It provides a 24/7 preparedness service, serving as a mobile expert support team to assist authorities in responding to unexpected nuclear security events, such as radiological crime scenes.
The mobile laboratory is equipped with various handheld detectors, a high-sensitivity remote-controlled detector system, an online dose-mapping system, an in-situ gamma spectrometer (HPGe), and the expertise of nuclear physicists for measurements. The development of an exploratory robot and drone is currently underway at the NSD to enhance remote sensing and measurement capabilities.
Phone number of the preparedness service: 06-20-252-0331
The mobile expert support team for a typical nuclear security event usually consists of 5 persons (1 searching coordinator, 1 clean person to help the team inside (for surface contamination measurement and ensuring radiation protection), 1 documenter for photography and documentation, and 2 for instrumental search. Full MEST consists of 5-10 persons, who can be mobilized and substitute each other. The expert team possesses suitable personal protective equipment (e.g. TyChem and Tyvek cloths, radio-communication gas masks, telescopic measurement systems, etc.), different types of handheld detectors, in-situ gamma spectrometers (HPGe), and nuclear physicists who have a lot of experience in the field. Their activity is under regulation by standard operating procedures.
The most recently improved area is radiological crime scene management. Together with the Criminal Forensics Department, National Bureau of Investigation Rapid Response Police, in a project financed by the Home Security Fund, a common operating procedure have been developed for investigation of a crime scene contaminated or containing radiological materials (project number is: BBA-5.3.3 / 3-2017-00010).
The MEST experts utilize their knowledge and experience as instructors at international training courses, and they also participate in special demonstration programs.
Radiological crime scene live demonstration together with the Hungarian Police at the IAEA Technical Meeting on Nuclear Forensics in 2022 in Vienna:
Live demonstration together with the Counter Terrorism Centre and the Hungarian Police in the framework of the INCLUDING EU HORIZON project (2022):
https://www.including-h2020.eu/movies/48-including-project-exercise-in-budapest-june-2022.html
International exercise and demonstration on: Counter a radiological terror attack at a major public event in Budapest at the National Athletic Centre (October 2024):
Introduction of the Hungarian Operating Procedure for Radiological Crime Scene Management at an international publication:
https://belugyiszemlejournal.org/index.php/belugyiszemle/article/view/733/735
