The radiological accident in Goiania: The initial remedial actions
- Comissao Nacional de Energia Nuclear, Rio de Janeiro (Brazil)
The removal of a 50.9-TBq {sup 137}Cs source from a radiation therapy facility in Goiania gave rise to a radiological accident in September 1987 whose proportions were aggravated by the 16-d interval from the beginning of a series of acts that resulted in the contamination of people and areas, to the moment of identification and seeking of aid. Data gathered from the declarations of persons involved in the accident, matched with the medical assessment and radiation monitoring of areas affected, made it possible to determine procedures for care of victims and for decontaminating operations of these areas. The priorities of these procedures were to provide care to victims and eliminate critical paths by which other persons might be affected by exposure to radiation or contamination. This paper presents (1) remedial actions taken during the first weeks, (2) management problems associated with the accident, and (3) lessons learned from this episode that are of benefit to us and, hopefully, to others.
- OSTI ID:
- 6327543
- Journal Information:
- Health Physics; (USA), Vol. 60:1; ISSN 0017-9078
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
BRAZIL
RADIATION ACCIDENTS
CESIUM 137
RADIATION MONITORING
ENVIRONMENTAL EXPOSURE
RADIATION HAZARDS
RADIOACTIVE WASTES
REMEDIAL ACTION
ACCIDENTS
ALKALI METAL ISOTOPES
BETA DECAY RADIOISOTOPES
BETA-MINUS DECAY RADIOISOTOPES
CESIUM ISOTOPES
DEVELOPING COUNTRIES
HAZARDS
HEALTH HAZARDS
ISOTOPES
LATIN AMERICA
MATERIALS
MONITORING
NUCLEI
ODD-EVEN NUCLEI
RADIOACTIVE MATERIALS
RADIOISOTOPES
SOUTH AMERICA
WASTES
YEARS LIVING RADIOISOTOPES
540130* - Environment
Atmospheric- Radioactive Materials Monitoring & Transport- (1990-)
540230 - Environment
Terrestrial- Radioactive Materials Monitoring & Transport- (1990-)
560151 - Radiation Effects on Animals- Man
560161 - Radionuclide Effects
Kinetics
& Toxicology- Man