Radiation emergencies

Basic knowledge and guide

 Every year, dozens of radioactive sources go

missing around the world
Most are recovered

Many are not

Sri Lanka, 24 September 2012

Americium-beryllium, a radioactive source, found in scrap
metal from Benin on way to India intercepted in Sri Lanka

Canada, May 2012

A container ship from China containing radioactive

kitchenware is intercepted in the port of Montreal
It contained cobalt-60, which is highly radioactive,
dissolved in the metal used to make pots and pans

Mayapuri, India, April 2010

Eight severe radiation injuries including one death

following discovery of radioactive source in scrapyard
Industrial device from university had been sold at auction
It contained cobalt-60, which is highly radioactive
Cobalt 60 cut in 11 pieces and shared by the people

Chile, 14 December 2005

Radioactive source from an industrial device falls out of

the device
Found by unsuspecting worker, who put it in his pocket

Brazil, September 2007

Abandoned cancer therapy source found by unsuspecting
public: four dead, 20 hospitalized

249 contaminated
112.000 monitored
3500 m3 contaminated waste
The source weighed 93 mg

Mississippi, 3 December 1983

Highway collision destroys truck carrying

radiopharmaceuticals and spreads radioactive material;
quick response saves the day
Scene cleared in 10 hours

Accidents happen

Brazil, April 2012: Vehicle with radiation device stolen in Rio

Bulgaria, September 2012: Thieves get away with industrial
radiography camera Source found one day later
UK, November 2006: Russian spy poisoned with radioactive
material; contamination found around the world
Russia, September 2004: Security boss poisoned with
radioactive material
China, May 2002: Chinese scientists irradiates his competition;
75 hospital workers report radiation sickness
Georgia, February 2002: Three workers sustain radiation
injuries after finding orphaned source in woods
And the list goes on

In Canada only, 110 sources missing or stolen since 2005

70 Recovered

40 not recovered

20 dangerous sources
90 less hazardous

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Do I have your attention?

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Typical radioactive sources in Trinidad and Tobago

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Is radioactive material dangerous?

No, if you know what to do

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What is radiation?

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A radioactive atom is unstable and decays

Alpha radiation

Beta radiation

Gamma radiation

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Protection

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Background radiation dose level

2 3 mSv/year

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Effects of radiation on health

10,000.00

Severe health effects possible

Acute Effects
> 150,000 x daily background

Dose rate (mSv/d)

1,000.00

100.00

Acute
Effects

10.00

Emergency
Levels

1.00

Natural
Background

Risk of cancer increases

0.10

0.01

Natural
Background
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Radiation risk in perspective

One cigarette shortens life by 2 minutes.

One mSv shortens life by about the same.
One bottle of wine shortens life by 4 minutes.
One work-day shortens life by 8 hours.
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How do you know radiation is present?

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Signs that radiation is or maybe present

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How do we detect radiation?

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Radiation detection

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What do I do if I come across radiation?

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First response actions

Notify ODPM/TEMA

Stay Away and cordon off

Adopt basic Precautions

Save Lives

Mitigate

Wait for Assistance

Check people before they leave

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Safe distances
Situation
Outdoors
Unshielded or damaged source
Spill involving radioactive material
Fire involving radioactive material
Indoors
Loss of shielding or spill involving
radioactive material
Fire

Initial safety perimeter

30 m radius
100 m radius
300 m radius
Affected room and immediately
adjacent rooms, including above
and below
Entire building

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Basic protection

From a source

Contamination suspected

Time

Respiratory protection

Distance

Protective clothing

Shielding

Dont eat, dont smoke

Do not handle the source

Decontaminate

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Life saving

Do not delay life saving because there

is radiation
It is preferable to decontaminate the
casualty before transport to a hospital
If casualty is critical, do not waste time
decontaminating

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Psychological impacts

Do not undermine the possible risk of psychological

impacts to yourself or your co-workers from responding
to a radiation emergency

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