The following information was provided by the
Illinois Emergency Management Agency (the Agency) via phone and email:
As a result of an ongoing Agency investigation into unresponsive general licensees, the Agency became aware that two (2) generally licensed gas chromatography devices containing 15 millicuries of Ni-63 are missing.
Reportedly, on or about February 2023, Morton Grove Pharmaceuticals (Morton Grove, IL) ceased operations and improperly auctioned the two generally licensed devices, along with all other assets.
The licensee failed to properly transfer or dispose of the devices, two Agilent Technologies model G23974 (s/n U10800 and s/n U12506). Agency inspectors conducted a site investigation on August 27, 2025, and confirmed no lab equipment is on site.
The quantity of radioactive material involved, while unlikely to be dangerous to the public, is reportable within 30 days to the Agency and the U.S. NRC. Efforts to identify the buyers of the devices through the auction company have been unproductive and, absent additional information, the investigation is closed.
Illinois item number: IL250035
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