Date: 3 May-June 1968

Location: La Plata, Argentina

Type of event: lost source

Description:

A construction worker at a chemical plant discovered a 13-curie cesium-137 industrial radiography source and put it in his pants pocket for 17 hours (right pocket for 7 hours, left pocket for 10 hours), incurring a dose of 50 to 1,700 rads. This caused localized radiation injury; he was unable to work after 2 days, with radiation injury eventually involving permanent sterility and amputation of both legs. Another 17 coworkers were exposed to estimated doses of 40 rad.

Consequences: 1 injury.

References:

• Molecular Biology Working Group, 27 August 1969, "Radiation sickness or death caused by surreptitious administration of ionizing radiation to an individual," on line at Mindfully.org [http://www.mindfully.org/Nucs/Surreptitious-Radiation-Administration.htm].
• Ortiz, P., M. Oresegun, and J. Wheatley, 2000, "Lessons from major radiation accidents," on line, Internationl Radiation Protection Association [http://www.irpa.net/irpa10/cdrom/00140.pdf].
• Weaver, J. Ellsworth III, 1995, "A brief chronology of radiation and protection," on line The Radiation Information Network [http://www.physics.isu.edu/radinf/chrono4.htm].

© 2004, 2007, 2008 by Wm. Robert Johnston.
Last modified 26 October 2008.
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