Re: Irradiator Accidents

[grh5rdh@grh30.med.navy.mil (Radiation Department Head)]

Dr. Raabe,
The textbook "Medical Management of Radiation Accidents" (Mettler, Kelsey
and Ricks) report on one case in China in 1963 where a 10 Ci Co-60 source
used for seed irradiation was found and taken into a home by a child.  Six
people were exposed and two died.

Two other cases involving Co-60 occurred in 1974 and 1977 in New Jersey in
facilities designed for product sterilization.  Both cases resulted in bone
marrow depression however the patients survived.

Ronald Long, LCDR MSC USN
Head, Radiation Health Training
Naval Undersea Medical Institute
Groton, CT



At 11:07 AM 1/15/98 -0600, you wrote:
>January 15, 1998
>Davis, CA
>
>A local anti-nuclear group claims that there have been fatalities in
>accidents involving Co-60 irradiators used for sterilizing purposes
>somewhere in the world. Does anyone have any info on such accidents?
>
>Otto
>		*****************************************************
>		Prof. Otto G. Raabe, Ph.D., CHP
>                [President, Health Physics Society, 1997-1998]
>		Institute of Toxicology & Environmental Health (ITEH)
>		     (Street address: Old Davis Road)
>		University of California, Davis, CA 95616
>		Phone: 530-752-7754  FAX: 530-758-6140 [NEW AREA CODE]
>		E-mail ograabe@ucdavis.edu
>