Re: From AP and AOL about Sr-90 exposure of lumberjacks in Georgia

[Ted de Castro <tdc@XRAYTED.COM>]

Heat source for a thermo electric generator



> "Bradford, Carla D" wrote:

> 

> Dear Radsafers,

> 

> Could someone please explain this statement: "...strontium-90,

> believed to have been used in signal beacons during the construction

> of a nearby hydroelectric plant ...".  What is the purpose of using a

> radioactive material as a signal beacon during the construction of a

> hydroelectric plant and how is it performed?  Just curious.

> 

> Thanks,

> Carla

> 

> 

> 

> Carla D. Bradford, Ph.D.

> Medical Physics Dept.

> Rhode Island Hospital

> 593 Eddy St., Rm.317

> Providence, RI 02903

> (401) 444-5961

> cbradford@lifespan.org

> 

>      -----Original Message-----

>      From: AndrewsJP@AOL.COM [mailto:AndrewsJP@AOL.COM]

>      Sent: Saturday, January 05, 2002 9:32 PM

>      To: radsafe@list.vanderbilt.edu

>      Subject: From AP and AOL about Sr-90 exposure of lumberjacks

>      in Georgia

> 

>      Radioactive Material Hospitalizes 3

> 

>      By MISHA DJINDZHIKHASHVILI

>      .c The Associated Press

> 

> 

>      TBILISI, Georgia (AP) - Three lumberjacks who found

>      containers with highly radioactive materials in a forest

>      were hospitalized in serious condition, and hundreds of

>      villagers living nearby have been thrown into panic,

>      officials said Saturday.

> 

>      The two containers with strontium-90, believed to have been

>      used in signal beacons during the construction of a nearby

>      hydroelectric plant 30 years ago, were found sometime last

>      month near the village of Dzhvare, about 135 miles southwest

>      of the capital Tbilisi.

> 

>      Experts from the International Atomic Energy Agency arrived

>      in Tbilisi on Saturday to visit the site, said Soso

>      Kukushadze, head of the radiation and nuclear security

>      department of the Environment Ministry.

> 

>      The area, about 550-yards in diameter, has been fenced off,

>      Kukushadze said. A special task force was being assembled,

>      but he warned that receiving the equipment to remove the

>      strontium is a question of financing.

> 

>      ``We hope the government allocates the necessary money,''

>      Kukushadze said.

> 

>      The containers are emitting radiation at a rate of 15

>      roentgens an hour from a distance of 5 feet - which is

>      thousands of times higher than normal background radiation.

> 

>      About 3,000 villagers live in the area, and many have

>      started to report headaches and other symptoms, but

>      Kukushadze dismissed the cases as ``radiation phobia.''

> 

>      ``There is absolutely no threat to the health of the

>      residents of Dzhvare,'' Kukushadze said.

> 

>      AP-NY-01-05-02 1146EST

> 

>      Copyright 2001 The Associated Press. The information

>      contained in the AP news report may not be published,

>      broadcast, rewritten or otherwise distributed without the

>      prior written authority of The Associated Press.  All active

>      hyperlinks have been inserted by AOL.

> 

>      ------------------------------------------

> 

>      John Andrews

>      Knoxville, Tennessee

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