NIH)PRELIMINARY REPORTS)AGAIN

[<cgj@nrc.gov> (Cynthia G. Jones )]

Since many of you have e-mailed me to get a copy of the
Preliminary Reports on NIH again (because they were unreadable on
RADSAFE), let me try to internet these messages again
(separately):
                                 -1-                  July  3,
1995

PRELIMINARY NOTIFICATION OF EVENT OR UNUSUAL OCCURRENCE
PNO-I-95-025 

This preliminary notification constitutes EARLY notice of events
of POSSIBLE
safety or public interest significance. The information is as
initially
received without verification or evaluation, and is basically all
that is
known by Region I staff in King of Prussia, Pennsylvania on this
date.

Facility                                    Licensee Emergency
Classification
National Institute Of Health                  Notification of
Unusual Event
National Institute Of Health                  Alert
Bethesda,Maryland                             Site Area Emergency
Dockets: 03001786 License No: 19-00296-10     General Emergency
                                            X Not Applicable


Subject:  INTERNAL CONTAMINTION OF RESEARCHER                            


On June 30, 1995, at 8:00 a.m., the licensee's Radiation Safety
Officer  
informed the NRC's inspector on-site performing a routine
inspection that
an incident involving internal contamination of a researcher had
been    
reported to the radiation safety office at approximately 5:30
p.m. the   
previous evening.                                                       

                                                                        

The licensee identified the researcher as a 32 year old female
who is in 
her fourth month of pregnancy but had not declared herself to be
pregnant
to the licensee.                                                        

                                                                        

The emergency response and follow-up by the licensee confirmed
the       
existence of a detectable radioactivity burden, however it does
not      
appear that an annual limit on intake was exceeded.  The licensee       

identified the ingested isotope to be phosphorous-32 (P-32).            

                                                                        

The incident is under investigation by the licensee.  There are
no       
adverse health  consequences expected for the researcher or the
fetus.   
The estimated ingestion is approximately 300 microcuries of P-32. 
The   
licensee believes that the event probably occurred around noon on       

Wednesday, June 28, 1995.                                               

                                                                        

NRC managers and Commissioner's Assistants were briefed.  Region
I has   
dispatched an Augmented Inspection Team (AIT).  An NRC medical
consultant
has been contacted and the licensee and the NRC are interacting
with the 
Radiation Emergency Assistance Center/Training Site (REACTS) at         

Oak Ridge, Tennessee.                                                   

                                                                        

The State of Maryland has been informed.                                

                                                                        

The Region I Office of Public Affairs is prepared to respond to
media    
inquiries.                                                              

                                                                        

This information is current as of 9:30 a.m., July 3, 1995.              


Contact:  Jenny M. Johansen     Susan F. Shankman                        

          (610)337-5304         (610)337-5283