The following Agreement State Report was received via facsimile:
Two static eliminators each initially containing 10 mCi, Po-210, were misplaced during the departmental move from one [licensee] facility to another. Each alpha emitting device is identified as a static eliminator manufactured by NRD, LLC of Grand Island, NY, Model No. P.2021.8203, with corresponding Serial No.'s of A2GF745 and A2HD506. The devices were reported missing subsequent to an inventory check.
Calculated device activity with Po-210 half-life = 138 days.
Device Serial No. A2GF745 was shipped by NRD to LTI on June 6, 2008 thus the original activity of 10 mCi is currently calculated to be 0.5 uCi.
Device Serial No. A2HD506 was shipped by NRD to LTI on April 7, 2010 thus the original activity of 10 mCi is currently calculated to be 15 uCi.
The aggregate activity exceeds the threshold of 1.0 uCi (i.e.10 X 0.1 uCi), per CMR 120.297 Appendix C.
The Agency [Commonwealth of Massachusetts] will continue to investigate this matter.
Cause: It is believed that during departmental moves from the Lenox, MA facility to a new location in Pittsfield, MA, that two static eliminators were misplaced.
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. For additional information go to
http://www-pub.iaea.org/MTCD/publications/PDF/Pub1227_web.pdf