ENS Event | |
|---|---|
06:00 Aug 26, 2025 | |
| Title | Lost and Recovered Radioactive Waste |
| Event Description | The following is a summary of information provided by the licensee via phone and email:
On 8/26/25, waste was collected from the Central Missouri Cardiology clinic (CMC) and sent to a landfill. Later that day, the Missouri Department of Health and Human Services (DHSS) was notified that a radiological alarm was triggered at the landfill. DHSS agents responded to the incident on 8/28/25. Surveys were taken of the truck, resulting in a maximum reading of 3.8 mR/hr on contact. The truck was opened, and the radioactive trash bag was identified. The trash bag contained common waste items like napkins, food wrappers, nitrile gloves, and some medical packaging. The radioactive items were segregated from the rest of the waste. On 9/3/25, the waste was collected and transferred to the CMC. The DHSS team placed the contaminated items into a bucket with a lid and secured the waste at their facility. The bucket was then placed in a large plastic trash bag and stored in the lead cave in the locked hot lab. The radiation safety staff investigation confirmed that no individual member of the public exceeded the annual dose limit of 100 mrem per 10 CFR 20.1301(a)(1). However, it may be possible that individuals could have received 2 mrem in any one hour per 10 CFR 20.1301(a)(2), if they were standing next to the dumpster prior to the pickup of the waste. The waste was identified as Rb-82, most likely in equilibrium with Sr-82, and possibly containing Sr-85. Based on all collected evidence, the most likely source of the radioactive waste was a routine exchange of a Sr-82/Rb-82 generator that was externally contaminated. The nuclear medicine technologist performing the exchange assumed their gloves were not contaminated and disposed of them in the non-radioactive trash. 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 |
| Where | |
|---|---|
| University of Missouri-Columbia Jefferson City, Missouri (NRC Region 3) | |
| License number: | 24-00513-32 |
| Organization: | University Of Missouri |
| Reporting | |
| 10 CFR 20.2201(a)(1)(i) | |
| Time - Person (Reporting Time:+2405.17 h100.215 days <br />14.316 weeks <br />3.295 months <br />) | |
| Opened: | Cade Register 12:10 Dec 4, 2025 |
| NRC Officer: | Kerby Scales |
| Last Updated: | Dec 4, 2025 |
| 58070 - NRC Website
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University of Missouri-Columbia with 10 CFR 20.2201(a)(1)(i) | |
WEEKMONTHYEARENS 580702025-08-26T06:00:00026 August 2025 06:00:00
[Table view]10 CFR 20.2201(a)(1)(i) Lost and Recovered Radioactive Waste ENS 508612015-03-04T06:00:0004 March 2015 06:00:00 10 CFR 20.2201(a)(1)(i) Missing Tritium Exit Sign 2025-08-26T06:00:00 | |