Missing radioactive material package

[aa661@FreeNet.Carleton.CA (Richard Cawthorn)]

The AECB has been advised that a radioactive material package being
transported enroute from Quezon City, Republic of the Philippines to
Kanata, Ontario, Canada is missing.  The missing package is a uranium
shielded, steel encased source changer with the radioactive material
contained within a radiography teleflex cable assembly.

Details of missing source changer and sources:

Source Changer SPEC C1 (Nordion model F-365), serial number 106; a Type
B(U) package certified under USA/9036/B(U) and endorsed for use in Canada
by CDU/E044/.

Two decayed Iridium-92 radiography source assemblies with current
activities of 1.09 Ci and 0.98 Ci.  These assemblies consist of a piece of
teleflex cable, approximately 15 cm long, with an approximately 0.6 cm
diameter by 2cm long steel capsule at one end and a connector at the other
end.

The source changer is believed to be padlocked and provided the sources
remain within the shield, it does not present a radiation hazard.  There
also exists a possibility that the package may be unlocked.  Should the
source assemblies be removed from the shielding of the source changer, a
radiation hazard would exist in the immediate vicinity of the radioactive
material.  If a source is found, no attempt should be made to move it and
no one should be allowed within at least 5 m of the source until it is
examined by an expert.

Any information about the shipment or clues to the whereabouts of the
missing source changer should be forwarded prompty to the proper
authorities, the police, CANUTEC, the AECB or Nordion International Inc.

AECB		(613) 995-0537 (normal working hours EDST)
		(613) 995-0479 (duty officer 24 hours)
		(613) 995-5086 (facsimile)

CANUTEC		(613) 996-6666 (24 hours)

Nordion Int'l	(613) 592-2790 (24 hours)

Details of loss:

According to information supplied, the shipment left the consignor,
Purecare Inc., on 1994-07-07 after inspection by the Philippine Nuclear
Research Institute (Philippine Competent Authority).  The shipment was
then forwarded by Superfreight Systems to a warehouse in Manila. On
1994-07-08 the shipment left Manila on British Airways flight BA 032 and
arrived in Hong Kong where it was off-loaded.  The shipment arrived at
Toronto airport 1994-07-14, on BA 089 via Heathrow airport, UK.  Overland
Express Transport took the shipment the following day, delivering it to
Nordion International in Kanata on 1994-07-16.  At that time it was
observed that one of the four drums in the shipment was empty; however,
the documentation indicated that the drums should not contain radioactive
material.  On 1994-07-26, examination of the source changers in the other
three drums showed that they contained radioactive material.  Suspicion
that the fourth drum also had contained a source changer with sources was
confirmed on 1994-07-27 based on additional information supplied by the
consignor.

--
Richard Cawthorn  E-mail: aa661@freenet.carleton.ca
Atomic Energy Control Board, Canada
Radioisotopes & Transportation Division