Thai radioactive waste claims 3rd victim

["Sandy Perle" <sandyfl@earthlink.net>]

Thai radioactive waste claims 3rd victim

BANGKOK, March 25 (Kyodo) - A Thai scrap collector exposed to 
a massive dose of radiation last month from a container of cobalt-
60 he brought to a scrap shop has died, bringing the death toll in 
the incident to three, a doctor at a Bangkok hospital said Saturday. 

Kecha Songsripiphat, 44, died of multiple organ failure Friday, said 
Surawith Tejathuvanit, deputy director of Rajavithi Hospital. The two 
other victims died March 9 and 18, respectively. 

Four others exposed to radiation in the incident are recovering at 
the hospital, he said. 

At least 10 people were exposed to radiation in early February after 
the container was brought to the scrap shop, about 30 kilometers 
south of Bangkok in the province of Samutprakan, by scrap 
collectors and broken open there. 

The stainless steel cylinder, weighing about 15 kilograms and 
measuring 30 centimeters in length, is known as a ''cobalt bomb'' 
and is used in treating cancer patients. 

It belonged to Kamol Sukosol Electric Co., which imported the 
device for a state hospital, which later returned it. The company 
alleges Kecha stole the cylinder from one of its warehouses. 

Thai authorities said they are monitoring the health conditions of 
residents in the area around the scrap shop but have found no 
abnormalities in initial checks. The monitoring will last for at least a 
year, they said.
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Sandy Perle					Tel:(714) 545-0100 / (800) 548-5100   				    	
Director, Technical				Extension 2306 				     	
ICN Worldwide Dosimetry Division		Fax:(714) 668-3149 	                   		    
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Personal Website:  http://www.geocities.com/capecanaveral/1205
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