Radiation emergencies Basic knowledge and guide
Every year, dozens of radioactive sources go missing around the world
Most are recovered
Many are not
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Sri Lanka, 24 September 2012
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Americium-beryllium, a radioactive source, found in scrap metal from Benin on way to India intercepted in Sri Lanka
Canada, May 2012
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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
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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
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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
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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
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In Canada only, 110 sources missing or stolen since 2005
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70 Recovered
40 not recovered
20 dangerous sources
90 less hazardous
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
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Alpha radiation
Beta radiation
Gamma radiation
Protection
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Background radiation dose level 2 3 mSv/year
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Effects of radiation on health
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Acute Effects
> 150,000 x daily background
0.01
0.10
1.00
10.00
100.00
1,000.00
10,000.00D
ose r
ate
(m
Sv/d
)
AcuteEffects
EmergencyLevels
NaturalBackground
Natural
Background
Risk of cancer increases
Severe health effects possible
Radiation risk in perspective
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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.
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 25
Safe distances
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Situation Initialsafetyperimeter
Outdoors
Unshieldedordamagedsource 30mradiusSpillinvolvingradioactivematerial 100mradius
Fireinvolvingradioactivematerial 300mradius
IndoorsLossofshieldingorspillinvolvingradioactivematerial
Affectedroomandimmediatelyadjacentrooms,includingaboveandbelow
Fire Entirebuilding
Basic protection
From a source
Time
Distance
Shielding
Do not handle the source
Contamination suspected
Respiratory protection
Protective clothing
Dont eat, dont smoke
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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