Document Details
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(893 K)
Title:
OVERVIEW OF THE ACCIDENT, THE RADIOLOGICAL ACCIDENT IN GOIANIA: THE INITIAL REMEDIAL ACTIONS (HEALTH PHYSICS PERGAMON PRESS JANUARY 1991, VOLUME 60, NO. 1, P.P. 7-15 )
Author(s):
DE ALMEIDA, C E [HEALTH PHYSICS - JOURNAL]; MENDONCA, A H [HEALTH PHYSICS - JOURNAL]; ROSENTHAL, J J [HEALTH PHYSICS - JOURNAL]
Subject Terms:
HREX
Document Location:
Location - DOE/NNSA NUCLEAR TESTING ARCHIVE Address - P.O. Box 98521 City - Las Vegas State - NV Zip - 89193-8521 Phone - (702)794-5106 Fax - (702)862-4240 Email - NTA@NV.DOE.GOV
Document Type:
JOURNAL ARTICLE
Publication Date:
1991 Jan 31
Declassification Status:
Never classified
Document Pages:
0009
Accession Number:
NV0704604
Originating Research Org.:
HEALTH PHYSICS - JOURNAL
OpenNet Entry Date:
1994 Aug 27
OpenNet Modified Date:
2012 May 14
Description/Abstract:
THE REMOVAL OF A 50.9-TBQ 137CS 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 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 USE AND, HOPEFULLY, TO OTHERS.