Bibliographic Citation
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| Title | Contaminated Mexican steel incident |
| Publication Date | 1985 Jan 01 |
| OSTI Identifier | OSTI ID: 6058761; Legacy ID: TI85900567 |
| Report Number(s) | NUREG-1103 |
| Other Number(s) | Other: ON: TI85900567 |
| Resource Type | Technical Report |
| Research Org | Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Washington, DC (USA). Div. of Quality Assurance, Safeguards and Inspection Programs |
| Subject | 54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES; 63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.; MEXICO; RADIATION ACCIDENTS; EMERGENCY PLANS; COBALT 60; CONTAMINATION; HUMAN POPULATIONS; INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION; RADIATION DOSES; STEELS; X-RAY TUBES; ACCIDENTS; ALLOYS; BETA DECAY RADIOISOTOPES; BETA-MINUS DECAY RADIOISOTOPES; COBALT ISOTOPES; COOPERATION; DEVELOPING COUNTRIES; DOSES; ELECTRON TUBES; EQUIPMENT; INTERMEDIATE MASS NUCLEI; INTERNAL CONVERSION RADIOISOTOPES; IRON ALLOYS; IRON BASE ALLOYS; ISOMERIC TRANSITION ISOTOPES; ISOTOPES; LATIN AMERICA; MINUTES LIVING RADIOISOTOPES; NORTH AMERICA; NUCLEI; ODD-ODD NUCLEI; POPULATIONS; RADIOISOTOPES; X-RAY EQUIPMENT; YEARS LIVING RADIOISOTOPES |
| Description/Abstract | This report documents the circumstances contributing to the inadvertent melting of cobalt 60 (Co-60) contaminated scrap metal in two Mexican steel foundries and the subsequent distribution of contaminated steel products into the United States. The report addresses mainly those actions taken by US Federal and state agencies to protect the US population from radiation risks associated with the incident. Mexico had much more serious radiation exposure and contamination problems to manage. The United States Government maintained a standing offer to provide technical and medical assistance to the Mexican Government. The report covers the tracing of the source to its origin, response actions to recover radioactive steel in the United States, and return of the contaminated materials to Mexico. The incident resulted in significant radiation exposures within Mexico, but no known significant exposure within the United States. Response to the incident required the combined efforts of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC), Department of Energy, Department of Transportation, Department of State, and US Customs Service (Department of Treasury) personnel at the Federal level and representatives of all 50 State Radiation Control Programs and, in some instances, local and county government personnel. The response also required a diplomatic interface with the Mexican Government and cooperation of numerous commercial establishments and members of the general public. The report describes the factual information associated with the event and may serve as information for subsequent recommendations and actions by the NRC. 8 figures. |
| Country of Publication | United States |
| Language | English |
| Format | Medium: X; Size: Pages: 81 |
| Availability | NTIS, PC A05/MF A01 - GPO* $4.50. |
| System Entry Date | 2008 Feb 07 |
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