contaminated lead bricks found in museum display

[LIPTONW@dteenergy.com]

The Department of Energy, Operating Experience Weekly Summary (url:  
 
"http://www.tis.eh.doe.gov/web/oeaf/oe_weekly/oe_weekly.html";) 
 
Summary 99-28 (July 9 - July 15, 1999) includes a report on contaminated
lead 
bricks that were discovered in a nuclear medicine exhibit at the National 
Atomic Museum, at the Sandia National Laboratory.  A visitor discovered the 
contamination while demonstrating the use of a radiation detector that was 
part of the display.  Followup surveys found up to 1543 dpm/100 cm2
removable 
and 462,800 dpm/100 cm2 fixed contamination consisting of Cs-137. 
 
Many nuclear power plants, hospitals, and universities have museums, visitor 
centers, or free standing exhibits.  I recommend that you survey any 
potentially contaminated displays. 
 
This DOE report is an excellent publication, which I recommend that you
review 
each week.   
 
The opinions expressed are strictly mine. 
Once more with feeling: 
It's not about dose, it's about trust. 
 
Bill Lipton 
liptonw@dteenergy.com 

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