The following information was received from the Commonwealth of
Massachusetts via fax:
Abstract:
10/24/12 - Metal load rejected at recycling facility. Reported to CRCPD. [Conference of Radiation Control Program Directors]
11/7/12 - Compass with suspected Ra dial was recovered from trash load.
12/4/12 - Compass was identified as 13.8 microCuries Ra-226. Compass was worn on wrist and was labeled Sperio Magneto Company.
- * * UPDATE VIA FAX FROM JOSH DAEHLER TO DONALD NORWOOD AT 1534 EST ON 12/6/12 * * *
The compass source is now stored in Rockland, MA, pending disposal, in accordance with Atlantic Nuclear's specific radioactive materials license No. 56-0477. The compass source is reported by Atlantic Nuclear to have passed a leak test; be of excellent condition; and to exhibit a dose rate of approximately 8 to 10 microrem/hr at one meter from the source, as measured by a calibrated ion chamber. The compass source appears to be of type that was designed to have been worn on a wrist or attached by hook to a belt or lanyard.
Notified R1DO (Jackson). Notified FSME Events Resource via E-mail.
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. For additional information go to
http://www-pub.iaea.org/MTCD/publications/PDF/Pub1227_web.pdf