The following is a synopsis of information received verbally and via email from the
Texas Department of State Health Services (the Agency):
On July 22, 2019, the Agency (Texas Department of State Health Services) received a report from Harris County Hazmat that at approximately 0715 CDT a Harris County Region 3 Constable had found a Spec-150 radiography camera (s/n:1763), containing a 39 curie Ir-192 source, at the intersection of Miller Road 2 and State Highway 90 in Houston. While recovering the radiography camera, the Constable was approached by the radiographer who had lost the camera. Apparently the radiographer had placed the camera on the tailgate of his vehicle and failed to secure it before driving to a gas station. While driving away from the gas station, the radiographer noticed a law enforcement officer holding what appeared to be a radiography camera. The radiographer stopped, checked for his camera, and discovered that it was not in his possession. That is when the radiographer approached the Constable. After verification, the radiography camera was returned to the licensee. An investigation is ongoing.
Texas Incident #: 9696
THIS MATERIAL EVENT CONTAINS A "CATEGORY 2" LEVEL OF RADIOACTIVE MATERIAL
Category 2 sources, if not safely managed or securely protected, could cause permanent injury to a person who handled them, or were otherwise in contact with them, for a short time (minutes to hours). It could possibly be fatal to be close to this amount of unshielded radioactive material for a period of hours to days. These sources are typically used in practices such as industrial gamma radiography, high dose rate
brachytherapy and medium dose rate
brachytherapy. For additional information go to
http://www-pub.iaea.org/MTCD/publications/PDF/Pub1227_web.pdf