ML19256C756
| ML19256C756 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Issue date: | 05/13/1979 |
| From: | Higginbotham L, Metzger J NRC OFFICE OF INSPECTION & ENFORCEMENT (IE) |
| To: | |
| References | |
| 12-00929-13, 12-929-13, PNO-79-053, PNO-79-53, NUDOCS 7910120431 | |
| Download: ML19256C756 (1) | |
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PRELIMINARY fl0TIFICATION March 13, 1979 PRELIMINARY NOTI:ICATION OF EVENT OR UNUSUAL OCCURRENCE--PNO-79-53 This preliminary notification constitutes EARLY notice of event of POSSIBLE safety or public interest significance.
The information presented is as init1My received without verification or evaluation and is basically all that is known by IE staff on this date.
Facility:
Rush-Presbyterian-St. Lukes Medical Center, Chicago, Illinois License No. 12-00929-13
Subject:
SURFACE LEVELS IN EXCESS OF 200 MILLIREM PER HOUR ON A PACKAGE The licensee reported, as required by 10 CFR 20.205(c)(2), that radiation levels of about 500 mrem /hr were measured at the surface of a package which apparently contained 1.6 curies of xenon-133 gas. This package was shipped by Federal Express (a common carrier) from General Electric's Vallecitos facility in Pleasanton, California. The DOT label indicated a surface level of 1.0 mrem /hr. The dose level at one meter from the package was 10 mrem /hr. The xenon-133 is an external radiation hazard only.
Region III calculates from the above measurements that it is likely the inner glass vial lacks its lead shield or the vial has leaked.
In the latter case, the gas would fill the sealed outside can surrounding the lead shield and vial.
The licensee has notified the final carrier.
Region III has notified the State of Illinois and the Office of State Programs.
Neither the NRC nor the licensee plan a press release.
NRC, Region III (Chicago), received notification of this occurrence by telephone from a licensee Nuclear Medicine Department representative at 2:00 p.m. on March 12, 1979.
Region III ' alans to followup this event to determine the exact cause of the high surface radiation levels and to calculate the probable radiation dose to people exposed during the shipment.
Contact:
JRMetzger, IE x28188 LBHigginbotham, IE x28188 Distribution:
Transmitted H St / M Chairman Hendrie Commissioner Bradford S. J. Chilk, SECY Commissioner Kennedy Commissioner Ahearne C. C. Kammerer, CA CommissionerGilinsky'h'/
(For Distribution)
Transmitted: MNBBCl-P.BldgL/
J. G. Davis, IE L. V. Gossick, ED0 H. R. Denton, NRR Regionfil 1LI '),
H. L. Ornstein, ED0 R. C. DeYoung, NRR J. J. Fouchard, PA R. J. Mattson, NRR N. M. Haller, MPA V. Stello, NRR (MAIL)
R. G. Ryan, OSP R. S. Bo NRR J. J. Cummings, 0IA H. K. Shapar, ELD SS Bldg 1;L)C R. fiinogue, SD W. J. Dircks, NMSS 1452 425 PRELIMINARY NOTIFICATION