ENS 57788
ENS Event | |
|---|---|
16:49 Jun 27, 2025 | |
| Title | |
| Event Description | The following information was provided by the Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE) via phone and email:
On Friday, June 27, 2025, at 1249 EDT, MDE Program Manager received an email from the radiation safety officer (RSO) at Johns Hopkins University Radiation Control Unit, regarding a radiation overexposure incident involving a declared pregnant worker at the Johns Hopkins Bethesda PET facility. The RSO reported that a PET technician received the following radiation doses over the past three months: Fetal dose: 13.149 rem Whole body dose: 29.966 rem Extremity (ring) dose: 6329 rem Following the notification, the MDE contacted the RSO by phone to obtain additional details about the incident. The RSO explained that the employee's radiation exposure levels remained within acceptable limits until mid-March 2025. At that time, the technician began receiving higher-than-typical doses. The employee was informed when elevated exposure levels were initially observed in April 2025 dosimetry records. Upon reviewing the May 2025 dosimetry reports, the Radiation Control Office observed that the exposure levels were significantly elevated. As a result, the June 2025 dosimetry was expedited, which confirmed doses exceeding investigation thresholds. The employee was promptly notified of the dose results and was immediately removed from any work involving radioactive materials. The RSO has initiated a root cause investigation and will notify the MDE as required. This communication serves as a preliminary notification; MDE will follow up on the case and will provide further updates as appropriate. The following additional information was obtained from the licensee in accordance with Headquarters Operations Officers Report Guidance: The overexposure was limited to one worker as two other workers' dosimetry indicate normal exposures. It is unknown at this time what radiopharmaceutical was involved or if there is an indication of spread of contamination. MDE does plan to perform a reactive inspection.
The following summary of information was provided by the Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE) via phone and email: The facility and license number is Johns Hopkins Imaging, Bethesda (RAML #31-314-01). The radiopharmaceuticals used contains F-18 and G-68. MDE called the facility RSO and the RSO determined that there is no indication of a spill or spread of contamination at the facility. Notified R1DO (Arner), NMSS Events (email), NMSS (Silberfeld).
The following summary of information was provided by the Maryland Department of the Environment via email: Following further investigation, the facility received updated dosimetry reports from their contractor. These values were confirmed through reanalysis using multiple instruments. Based on this reassessment, the originally reported doses were found to differ slightly from the earlier reported values. Specifically, the updated fetal dose is 14.790 rem. Notified R1DO (Henrion), NMSS Events (email), NMSS (Allen).
The following summary of information was provided by the Maryland Department of the Environment via email: The extremity (ring) dose is 6329 mrem (i.e. 1000 times lower), instead of 6329 rem. Notified R1DO (Bickett), NMSS Events (email), NMSS (Fisher). |
| Where | |
|---|---|
| Johns Hopkins Imaging, Bethesda Bethesda, Maryland (NRC Region 1) | |
| License number: | RAML #31-314-01 |
| Organization: | Maryland Dept Of The Environment |
| Reporting | |
| Agreement State | |
| Time - Person (Reporting Time:+1.02 h0.0425 days <br />0.00607 weeks <br />0.0014 months <br />) | |
| Opened: | Krishnakumar Nangeelil 17:50 Jun 27, 2025 |
| NRC Officer: | Sam Colvard |
| Last Updated: | Aug 11, 2025 |
| 57788 - NRC Website | |
Johns Hopkins Imaging, Bethesda with Agreement State | |
WEEKMONTHYEARENS 577882025-06-27T16:49:00027 June 2025 16:49:00
[Table view]Agreement State Overexposure 2025-06-27T16:49:00 | |