Date: 1980

Location: Houston, Texas, USA

Type of event: radiotherapy accident

Description:

An accident involving yttrium-90 in nuclear medicine therapy caused 7 deaths.

Consequences: 7 fatalities.

References:

• Bosworth, Lisa, et ali, 2002, "Radiation accidents", on line, BNL [www.bnl.gov/homeland/docs/HPS_rad_accidents.PPT when accessed].
• Densow, D., H. Kindler, and T. M. Fliedner, "Medical experience: Chernobyl and other accidents," in Restoration of Environments Affected by Residues from Radiological Accidents: Approaches to Decision Making, IAEA (Vienna, Austria), pp. 142-147, on line at IAEA [http://www-pub.iaea.org/MTCD/publications/PDF/te_1131_prn.pdf].
• Ricks, Robert C., Mary Ellen Berger, Elizabeth C. Holloway, and Ronald E. Goans, 2000, "REAC/TS radiation accident registry: update of accidents in the United States," on line, International Radiation Protection Association [http://www.irpa.net/irpa10/cdrom/00325.pdf].

© 2004, 2005 by Wm. Robert Johnston.
Last modified 23 November 2005.
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