Medical and related aspects of the Goiania accident: An overview

Journal Article · Tue Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1991 · Health Physics; (USA)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1097/00004032-199101000-00002· OSTI ID:6270902

Oliveira, A R; Hunt, J G; Valverde, N J; Brandao-Mello, C E; Farina, R ^[1]

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1. Industrias Nucleares do Brasil S.A., Rio de Janeiro (Brazil)

On 13 September 1987, a radiation accident occurred in the city of Goiania in Central Brazil. Approximately 250 people were exposed to a 137Cs source from an abandoned radiotherapy unit. At least 14 patients showed some degree of bone marrow depression, and eight developed the classical signs and symptoms of acute radiation syndrome (ARS). Twenty-eight people presented local radiation injuries ranging from first to third degree, and 104 individuals showed evidence of internal contamination. This paper describes the circumstances of the event, the first-aid measures taken, the criteria adopted for triage of the exposed population, and the radiation protection procedures used during the clinical management of the irradiated individuals.

• OSTI ID: 6270902
• Journal Information: Health Physics; (USA), Vol. 60:1; ISSN 0017-9078
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
BRAZIL
RADIATION ACCIDENTS
CESIUM 137
RADIATION HAZARDS
ENVIRONMENTAL EXPOSURE
RADIATION INJURIES
RADIATION PROTECTION
ACCIDENTS
ALKALI METAL ISOTOPES
BETA DECAY RADIOISOTOPES
BETA-MINUS DECAY RADIOISOTOPES
BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS
BIOLOGICAL RADIATION EFFECTS
CESIUM ISOTOPES
DEVELOPING COUNTRIES
HAZARDS
HEALTH HAZARDS
INJURIES
ISOTOPES
LATIN AMERICA
NUCLEI
ODD-EVEN NUCLEI
RADIATION EFFECTS
RADIOISOTOPES
SOUTH AMERICA
YEARS LIVING RADIOISOTOPES
560151* - Radiation Effects on Animals- Man
560161 - Radionuclide Effects
Kinetics
& Toxicology- Man