Date: 1983

Location: Schwarze Pumpe, GDR (East Germany)

Type of event: accidental exposure to industrial source

Description:

A defective unit with an iridium-192 industrial source was inappropriately handled, resulting in a 500-rad dose to the right hand of a person, causing a first-degree radiation burn.

Consequences: 1 injury.

References:

• UNSCEAR, 2000, "Annex E: Occupational radiation exposures," in Sources and Effects of Ionizing Radiation: United Nations Scientific Committee on the Effects of Atomic Radiation UNSCEAR 2000 Report to the General Assembly, with Scientific Annexes, Volume I: Sources, UNSCEAR, on line at UNSCEAR [http://www.unscear.org/docs/reports/annexe.pdf].

© 2004, 2006 by Wm. Robert Johnston.
Last modified 11 June 2006.
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