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Re: transportation event
You bring up an interesting question. The specified drop test height for a
Type A package weighing less than 11,000 pounds is 4 feet (49 CFR 173.465), so
the package should have easily survived the drop. It's not completely clear
from the incident description, but it seems that the package failed BEFORE the
syringe was run over. ( The incident describes the syringe being run over, not
the package. Also, if the intact package had been run over, it's unlikely the
syringe would have been lost.)
The incident description also describes the Tc-99m syringe as being in a lead
pig. The question: Is an ammo box qualified as a Type A package when it
contains a lead pig? i.e. were the tests performed with a comparable pig in
the box? I would guess not. My experience is that there seems to be a
widespread misuse of "Type A" packaging, based on the misconception that, if
the packaging is qualified as Type A, you can use it for anything.
I'm sure there are some Radsafers who use this packaging. Please look at your
test results. What did the packaging contain when the package (package =
packaging + contents) was tested? My guess: sand.
The opinions expressed are strictly mine.
It's not about dose, it's about trust.
Curies forever.
Bill Lipton
liptonw@dteenergy.com
"Williamson, Matthew/Medical Physics" wrote:
> Hmm, an ammo box fell out of a vehicle. I MUST say by regulation that
> the syringes were displaced when run over by the truck. We ALL know
> that a USDOT Certified Type A pkg can withstand such a small drop onto
> the pavement without ANY change to the radiation levels.
>
> Matt Williamson
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: owner-radsafe@list.Vanderbilt.Edu
> [mailto:owner-radsafe@list.Vanderbilt.Edu] On Behalf Of William V Lipton
> Sent: Wednesday, November 12, 2003 9:24 AM
> To: radsafe@list.Vanderbilt.Edu
> Subject: transportation event
>
> Please see the message pasted from the NRC Event Report for November 12,
> 2003. Note that this occurred at 0700, on November 10, 2003, i.e. rush
> hour. It's good to know that a spill of radioactive material in a busy
> location, but with no significant hazard, did NOT create a panic. I did
> not see any media coverage on this, although there may have been some in
> the DC area.
>
> The opinions expressed are strictly mine.
> It's not about dose, it's about trust.
> Curies forever.
>
> Bill Lipton
> liptonw@dteenergy.com
>
> Other Nuclear Material Event Number: 40310
> Rep Org: EASTERN ISOTOPES INC
> Licensee: EASTERN ISOTOPES INC
> Region: 1
> City: STERLING State: VA
> County:
> License #: 45-25221-01DM
> Agreement: N
> Docket:
> NRC Notified By: JOE HARLESS RSO
> HQ OPS Officer: MIKE RIPLEY Notification Date: 11/10/2003 Notification
> Time: 13:52 [ET] Event Date: 11/10/2003 Event Time: 07:00 [EST] Last
> Update Date: 11/10/2003 Emergency Class: NON EMERGENCY 10 CFR Section:
> 20.2201(a)(1)(ii) - LOST/STOLEN LNM>10X
> Person (Organization):
> KENNETH JENISON (R1)
> DOUG BROADDUS (NMSS)
> M. BROWN (DOT)
> L. MARZULL (EPA)
> SUSAN FRANT (IRO)
>
> Event Text
>
> TRANSPORTATION EVENT - SYRINGES LOST FROM COURIER VEHICLE
>
> The licensee reported that at 0700 ET on 11/10/03, a courier was
> transporting syringes containing Technetium-99M and Flourine-18 when,
> while driving over the Key Bridge in Georgetown, District of Columbia,
> the trunk of the vehicle popped open and 2 boxes were released just past
> the bridge in Georgetown. Everything was recovered except for 1 syringe
> containing 15 millicuries of Flourine-18 calibrated at 1145 ET with a
> 2-hr half life and 1 pig containing a syringe with 2 millicuries
> Technetium-99M calibrated at 1300 ET with a 6-hr half life. Pieces of
> the syringe containing the Flourine-18 were recovered and it was
> believed that the syringe had been run over by a truck. A radiation
> survey was performed and only very low readings were found where the
> syringe had been broken. The pig containing the syringe with
> Technetium-99M was not recovered and it is believed to have rolled into
> a storm drain near the intersection of Reservoir Road and M Street in
> Georgetown. The licensee and the local Hazmat Team determined that there
> was no need to attempt a recovery of the material from the storm drain.
>
> The licensee had initially notified the VA Dept. of Health, DC
> Department of Health, and US DOT (NRC) of the released Flourine-18 prior
> to realizing that the syringe containing Technetium-99M was also
> missing. The licensee will be updating these agencies.
>
>
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