Radiation Accident

[loesch@viper.eh.doe.gov (Robert M. Loesch)]

        The IAEA has just informed the US of a radiation accident in 
        Estonia.  The preliminary information is that an individual
        "found" an abandoned Cs-137 source and took it home where he
        lived with his son and a dog.  The father died but his death
        was not initially tied to radiation syndrome until his son
        also took ill.  The dog has also died.  A response team discovered
        the source in a kitchen drawer.  Dose rates were reported as
        250 R/hr @ 5 cm and 150 R/hr in the kitchen (inverse square?).
        The son is in critical condition and is not expected to survive.

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* Robert M. Loesch                                   *
* DOELAP Administrator     U.S. Department of Energy *
*                          EH-411, GTN, 270 CC       *
* (301) 903-4443   voice   Washington, DC  20585     *
* (301) 903-7773   fax                               *
*           email: loesch@viper.eh.doe.gov           *
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