Date: 1987

Location: Zhengzhou City, P.R. China

Type of event: irradiator accident

Description:

An accident occurred at an irradiation facility using a cobalt-60 source. An individual accidentally entered the irradiation room for 10 to 15 seconds, acquiring a whole-body dose of 135 rad in the process. The person suffered anorexia and nausea four hours later and developed radiation sickness with slow recovery.

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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