[ RadSafe ] Stolen cobalt-60 found in Mexico; curious thieves likely doomed

Jim Hardeman jim.hardeman at gmail.com
Thu Dec 5 13:30:59 CST 2013 

Joe --

I'm sure every ER doc in Mexico has read Eric Hall's book <grin> ...

Jim


On Thu, Dec 5, 2013 at 2:27 PM, <JPreisig at aol.com> wrote:

> Hmmmm,
>
>       So, what's the deal ---> these Co-60  thiefs couldn't read the
> warnings on the Cobalt source??? Ouch.
> They actually exposed the source --- how unfortunate.  I guess if they  are
> lucky they will check into a local Hospital with gastrointestinal radiation
>  syndrome or worse.  I guess they walked away from the scene of the  crime.
>  The various forms of radiation sickness are described, I think, in  Eric
> Hall's book on Radiobiology/Biophysics.
>
>     Joe Preisig
>
>
>
>
>
>
> In a message dated 12/5/2013 2:09:34 P.M. Eastern Standard Time,
> jim.hardeman at gmail.com writes:
>
> Oops --  unit error. I meant ~700 R/min. Sorry about that.
>
> Jim
>
>
> On  Thu, Dec 5, 2013 at 1:56 PM, <roseb at gdls.com> wrote:
>
> >  Jim:
> >
> > Your math is a bit off, the specific gamma-ray constant  for Co-60 is
> 1.37
> > R/hr @ 1 m.  The exposure rate from a 3,000 Ci  Co-60 source would be
> much
> > higher than 700 rad/h at 1 ft (~0.33  m).
> >
> > Henry
> >
> > Boyd H. Rose, CM, CIH, CHMM,  EI
> > Sr. Safety and Environmental Engineering Specialist
> >  Corporate Radiation Safety Officer
> > General Dynamics Land  Systems
> > 38500 Mound Road
> > Mail Zone 436-10-75
> > Sterling  Heights , MI 48310-3269
> > Tel: 586 825 4503
> > Fax: 586 825  4015
> > E-mail:  roseb at gdls.com
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > Jim Hardeman  <jim.hardeman at gmail.com>
> > Sent by:  radsafe-bounces at agni.phys.iit.edu
> > 12/05/2013 01:47 PM
> > Please  respond to
> > "The International Radiation Protection \(Health Physics\)  Mailing List"
> >  <radsafe at agni.phys.iit.edu>
> >
> >
> > To
> > "The  International Radiation Protection (Health Physics) Mailing List"
> >  <radsafe at agni.phys.iit.edu>
> > cc
> >
> > Subject
> >  Re: [ RadSafe ] Stolen cobalt-60 found in Mexico; curious thieves
>  likely
> > doomed
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >  Doomed? Probably so. If I did my math right, they would have been
> looking
> > at ~700 rad/h at a foot.
> >
> > The question is, will  medical personnel be able to make a proper
> diagnosis
> > of  ARS?
> >
> > Jim Hardeman -- retired :-)
> > Decatur, GA
> >  jim.hardeman at gmail.com
> >
> >
> >
> > On Thu, Dec 5, 2013 at  1:24 PM, Boing, Lawrence E. <lboing at anl.gov>
> wrote:
> >
> > >  That's what I read somewhere yesterday as well ....3,000 Curies....
> >  >
> > > L Boing
> > > lboing at anl.gov
> > >
> >  >
> > > -----Original Message-----
> > > From:  radsafe-bounces at health.phys.iit.edu [mailto:
> > >  radsafe-bounces at health.phys.iit.edu] On Behalf Of Lemieux, Bryan P
> >  > Sent: Thursday, December 05, 2013 12:10 PM
> > > To: The  International Radiation Protection (Health Physics) Mailing
> List
> > >  Subject: Re: [ RadSafe ] Stolen cobalt-60 found in Mexico; curious
> >  thieves
> > > likely doomed
> > >
> > > I read 3000  Ci.....
> > >
> > > On Dec 5, 2013 11:39 AM, "Estabrooks, H  Bates (IHK)" <
> > > estabrookshb at y12.doe.gov> wrote:
> >  > Has anyone revealed/published the activity of the source?
> >  >
> > > Bates Estabrooks
> > > Y-12 NSC
> > >
> >  > -----Original Message-----
> > > From:  radsafe-bounces at health.phys.iit.edu [mailto:
> > >  radsafe-bounces at health.phys.iit.edu] On Behalf Of Harrison - CDPHE,
> Tony
> > > Sent: Thursday, December 05, 2013 11:31 AM
> > > To:  radsafe at health.phys.iit.edu
> > > Subject: [ RadSafe ] Stolen cobalt-60  found in Mexico; curious thieves
> > > likely doomed
> >  >
> > > MEXICO CITY - The carjackers who set off international alarm  bells by
> > > absconding with a truckload of highly radioactive  material most likely
> > had
> > > no idea what they were stealing  and will probably die soon from
> > exposure,
> > > Mexican  authorities said at the end of a brief national scare...
> > >
> >  > The cobalt-60 was found, removed from its casing, in a rural area
>  near
> > the
> > > town of Hueypoxtla about 25 miles from where the  truck was stolen.
> > Jimenez
> > > suspected that curiosity got  the better of the thieves and they opened
> > the
> > > box. So far  the carjackers have not been arrested, but authorities
> > expect
> >  > they will not live long.
> > >
> > >
> >  >
> >
> >
>
> http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/stolen-cobalt-60-found-in-mexico-curious-thieves-likely-doomed/2013/12/05/262ef990-5d66-11e3-8d24-31c016b976b2_st
> ory.html?hpid=z1
> >
> >  >
> > >
> > >
> > > Tony Harrison, MSPH
> >  >
> > > Inorganic & Radiochemistry Supervisor
> >  >
> > > Laboratory Services Division
> > >
> > >  Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment
> > >
> > >  8100 Lowry Blvd.
> > >
> > > Denver, CO  80230
> >  >
> > > 303-692-3046 |
> >  tony.harrison at state.co.us_______________________________________________
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