The following information was received from the
Wisconsin Department of Health Services (WI
DHS) via email:
On October 18, 2024, WI DHS identified Co-60 [material] in a rejected scrap load using a portable radionuclide identification device. The scrap material was determined to be from a nearby manufacturing facility.
On October 25, 2024, WI DHS performed a site visit at the manufacturing facility where the scrap material originated. Multiple metal castings and a bin of metal swarf were identified as contaminated with Co-60. Exposure rates on contact with most items ranged from approximately 100-200 microR/hr, with the highest reading of approximately 950 microR/hr.
The manufacturing facility purchased the metal castings from a WI foundry. It was determined that contaminated metal castings were purchased from a single WI foundry that had imported the castings from a foundry in India. The WI foundry only sold the casings to one manufacturing facility. On October 30 and November 27, 2024, WI DHS performed site visits at the WI foundry and confirmed the presence of Co-60 in additional metal castings from the same foundry in India. The WI foundry did not perform any manufacturing processes on the imported items. The WI foundry is continuing to screen items from the India foundry for elevated radiation levels.
Preliminary dose assessments by WI DHS indicate that public dose limits have not been exceeded at any of the facilities nor while in transportation. No removable contamination has been identified. WI DHS continues to monitor as additional items are identified and a final disposition of the radioactive material is determined.
WI Event Report ID No: WI240005.