Radiation related death from natural gas radiography source

[RadiumProj@cs.com]

I don't recall if the news excerpt reproduced below about a death in Egypt 
due to mishandling [diversion] of an Ir-192 source used in natural gas 
pipeline inspection was noted on radsafe. Does anyone know if the individuals 
charged have received prison sentences?

A death  among the general public due to improper handling of a radiography 
source could perhaps happen in any use, but it is unlikely such an intense 
source would ever be so casually diverted from a nuclear facility due to exit 
controls and RWPs.

I suggest that this very unfortunate death due to diversion of a radiography 
source used in natural gas pipeline inspection might properly be filed away 
under the environmental and public health "costs" of natural gas.

Stewart Farber
Consulting Scientist
Public Health Sciences
172 Old Orchard Way
Warren, VT 05674
email: SAFarberMSPH@cs.com
[802] 496-3356  home office


Welders Face X-ray Manslaughter Charges 

CAIRO—Eight people have been charged with manslaughter and negligence after 
they discarded highly radioactive iridium at their construction site. The 
owner and seven employees of a welding company face up to life in prison for 
leaving behind the iridium used to X-ray welds made for a natural gas 
pipeline. The iridium was found and taken home by Hassan Fadel Hassan who 
thought it might be valuable. Hassan, 60, and his nine-year-old son later 
died of radiation sickness, and his whole family was contaminated. 
—AP, July 26, 2000. 

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