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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