[ RadSafe ] Five injured from Co-60 source in India

[Hansen, Richard]

More information on the incident in India:

 

Government of India

Department of Atomic Energy

April 9, 2010

PRESS RELEASE No. 07/2010

Sub:- Radioactive materials found in the scrap dealer's shops in
Mayapuri, New Delhi.

http://www.dae.gov.in/press/pr09042010.htm

 

Based on the information received by national radiation regulatory
authority, Atomic Energy Regulatory Board (AERB) from Indraprastha
Apollo Hospital that a person, who is the owner of a scrap metal shop in
Mayapuri, New Delhi, is showing symptoms indicative of suspected
exposure to radiation, a team of officials from DAE and AERB were sent
to the scrap metal shop at Mayapuri, New Delhi. The officials used
radiation detection equipment and monitored the radiation levels at
various positions within the scrap shop and in the adjoining areas
during the afternoon and evening on 7th April, 2010. The shop belonging
to the person who had symptoms indicative of suspected radiation
exposure was found to have high radiation fields. Nearby four shops in
the same area also indicated high radiation fields. The team located the
sources of radiation and isolated one of the sources and shielded the
source with locally available steel scrap materials. This was done to
reduce the radiation level in the surrounding. The Crisis Management
Group in the Department of Atomic Energy (DAE) was activated and a team
of officers from DAE and AERB was sent to New Delhi with a wide range of
radiation monitoring and detecting equipment for prompt identification
and recovery of the radioactive pieces and their safe disposal.
Necessary equipment including shielding material and shielded containers
for carrying the radioactive material were also brought to the site. The
searching operation continued throughout the night of April 8, 2010. By
the forenoon on April 9, 2010, several pieces of radioactive material
could be located and they were removed and packed in shielded
containers. The radiation level in the affected area has come down to
the normal background level and cordoning of the road which was done for
preventing exposure to the people around have been removed. The entire
operation was carried out by the members of the DAE-AERB team with the
protection provided by the local police. The radionuclide responsible
for high radiation field has been identified as Co-60 using a portable
spectrometer. Such sources are used in industry for radiography,
nucleonic gauges for thickness measurement and in medical applications.
It may be mentioned that this incident/radiation exposure is not related
to any of the DAE facilities. The situation is under control. The
radioactive material in the shielded containers has already been shifted
out of the affected area and the radiation level in the entire area has
come down to normal background level.

http://www.dae.gov.in/press/pr09042010.htm

 

 

Radiation source Cobalt-60: Experts

KP Singh / TN Raghunatha | New Delhi / Mumbai

http://www.dailypioneer.com/248210/Radiation-source-Cobalt-60-Experts.ht
ml

 

A piece of radioactive Cobalt-60, which looked like a watch, was found
on Thursday evening in Deepak Jain's scrap shop...

Jain had apparently bought the material about ten days ago and had kept
it inside the shop. "Jain was exposed to the radiation more as he used
to sit inside the shop for maximum time. As a result of radiation, his
hands and other body parts turned black. He hasn't so far regained his
consciousness.

...

While the shop - the owner of which was exposed to high level of
radiation - was in the high

radiation field, four more nearby shops also indicated high radiation
fields. The team located the sources of radiation and isolated one of
the sources and shielded the source with locally available scrap
materials. This was done to reduce radiation levels in the surrounding
areas," Malhtora said.

Meanwhile, according to doctors, Deepak Jain's bone marrow is
'significantly suppressed' and his condition continues to be serious. He
is in the ICU and a multi-disciplinary team of doctors is monitoring his
condition. Jain's relative Rajesh said, "His health began deteriorating
10 days ago. He complained of nausea and headache. At first, he was
admitted to Kalra Hospital but later he was shifted to the AIIMS, thanks
to his poor economic condition. AIIMS authorities refused to admit him
and finally with the help from neighbours he is undergoing treatment at
Apollo Hospital."

 

Meanwhile, Deepak Jain's neighbour Himanshu Jain too developed similar
symptoms and was admitted to the AIIMS late on Friday evening. Himanshu
was with Deepak when he was admitted to Apollo.

 

Confirming the presence of one more piece of Cobalt-60 in the vicinity,
Deputy Commissioner of Police (West) Sharad Aggarwal 

said that the substance was traced by a team of atomic experts. "Experts
from the BARC, Narora Atomic Power Plant in Uttar Pradesh and Atomic
Energy Regulatory Board (AERB) reached the spot on Friday morning to
identify the mysterious object. They first located the object and then
identified it with their sophisticated equipments. Later, the entire
area was scanned carefully which led to the recovery of a similar object
from a nearby godown. The experts removed it safely in another
container. The area has been declared safe," said the DCP.

 

Aggarwal said the police were informed about the matter around 8.30 pm
on Thursday by the officers of the AERB. "They told the police that the
scrap dealer has been exposed to the radioactive material and is
admitted to Apollo Hospital. Later, it was learnt that four of Jain's
staff, who were also affected by the radiation, were admitted to DDU
Hospital. Acknowledging the seriousness of the situation, the area was
cordoned-off till the experts removed the radioactive substance safely
on Friday," he added.

 

Best regards,

Rick Hansen

Senior Scientist

Counter Terrorism Operations Support Program

National Security Technologies, LLC, for the U.S. Dept of Energy

hansenrg at nv.doe.gov

www.ctosnnsa.org