The
National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (
NIOSH) in Cincinnati, OH reported that three electron capture devices with a total activity of 658 milliCuries of
tritium are missing. The devices were last physically verified in inventory in October 1996. The devices were removed from the inventory listing in 1997 and no paperwork related to their disposition can be located. The institute contacted the device manufacturer, excess property listings, past
RSO's, past device users, and other universities and institutions with negative results. The devices are now considered lost.
The following two sources were in the same Baseline Model 1030A Gas Chromatograph (serial # 232):
Valco Industries Model 140 electron capture detector (serial # 158). The initial activity was 1000 mCi. Current activity is approximately 387 mCi.
Valco Industries Model 140 electron capture detector (serial # 124) . The initial activity was 1000 mCi. Current activity is approximately 218 mCi.
The third source was a Scentex electron capture detector in a Scentor Model Gas Chromatograph (serial # 40K191). Initial activity was 150 mCi. Current activity is approximately 53 mCi. The serial number of the detector is not known.
THIS MATERIAL EVENT CONTAINS A "LESS THAN CAT 3" LEVEL OF RADIOACTIVE MATERIAL
Sources that are "Less than
IAEA Category 3 sources," are either sources that are very unlikely to cause permanent injury to individuals or contain a very small amount of radioactive material that would not cause any permanent injury. Some of these sources, such as
moisture density gauges or thickness
gauges that are Category 4, the amount of unshielded radioactive material, if not safely managed or securely protected, could possibly - although it is unlikely - temporarily injure someone who handled it or were otherwise in contact with it, or who were close to it for a period of many weeks.