ML20210P863
| ML20210P863 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Issue date: | 12/30/1981 |
| From: | Lafleur J NRC |
| To: | BRAZIL |
| Shared Package | |
| ML20210P695 | List: |
| References | |
| FOIA-84-936 NUDOCS 8610060851 | |
| Download: ML20210P863 (4) | |
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SUBJECT:
i RADIO ACTIVE BLUE TOPAI GENS U ~
. 1 THE NRC HAS BEEN MADE AWARE.BY SOURCES AT THE gen TRADE LABORATORY OF THE GEnLOGICAL INSTITUTE.0F AMERICA THAT BLUE -=
TOPAZ GENS NOU BEING IMPORTED TO THE U.S. FRon BRAZIL ARE : ~-
RADI0 ACTIVE. SOME'0F THE STONES ANALYZED CONTAINED '
SCANDIUn~b UITH ONE GEM HANING A] SURFACE DOSE RATE OF # i.5 APPR0XIMATELY D.2 MR/HR, AND'1DD GENS TOGETHER HAVING ' .tff-
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,APPROXInATELY 12 MR/HR.AS MEASURED BY A G-n SURVEY METER.' .
SEVERAL INDIVIDUALS STATED THAT STONES PREVIOUSLY17.'. RECEIVED WHICH HAD BEEN IRRADIATED BY GAnnA RADIATION HAD NO - K;2 1
' DETECTABLE ACTIVITY. THEY BELIEVE THE GEMS N00 .IN THEIR '.If?
j j' POSSESSION HAD BEEN IRRADIATED IN A NUCLEAR REACTOR, SUCH
.AS THE SA0 PAULO REACTOR, IN ORDER:TO OBTAIN THEIR BLUE Y X?;
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LCOLOR. ..UE..ARE ADVISED THAT THE ' BLUE COLOR OF THE GEMS IS l'O -
'THE SAME UHETHER THE COLOR IS INDUCED BY THE GAnnA IRRADIA- i~
T.I.0N-ppt 0 EESG -OR THE NEUTRON .IRR ADI ATION PROCESS. THE GEMS :i'5 USHOUING._pP RECENTLY ARE BELIEVED To BE THE FIRST To EnIT'
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. 'WOULDLIKETOOBTAINSOMEADDITIONALINFORMATIONREGARDING".h jTHE ORIGIN OF THE GEMS, SUCH AS: '
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UNCLASSIFIt) 2
{A} IRE TOPAZ GEMS BEING ITRADIATED IN A REACTOR IN lk SA0 PAULO, BRAZIL; AT OTHER LOCATIONSF CE} ARE OTHER TYPES OF GEMS BEING HEUTRON IRRADIATEDf i
{C} ARE THE IRR ADIATIONS PERFORMED YITH .THE AUTHORIZATION !
0F THE REACTOR OPERATORSf
{D> ARE THE IRRALIATIONS AUTHORIZED BY THE BRAZILIAN l 60VERNMENTf l {E) HAS THE BRAZILIAN GOVERNMENT EVALUATED THE HAZARDS .
ASSOCIATED WITH THE IRRADIATED GENT AND ESTABLISHED .
' ACCEPTANCE CRITERIA FOR THEIR RELEASE FROM THE REACTOR AND FOR EXP0RTf IF S0, CAN NRC HAVE COPIES OF CRITERIAs EVALUATIONS, AND CONCLUSIONSf M S d d.M hmes .r.. e
{F} WHAT II THE ESTINATED ANNUAL VOLUME OF 70PAZ GEMS EXPORTED TO THE UNITED STATESf
{G} WHERE ARE THEY SENT, IN THE UNITED STATESf ddd=15!rm
. Jaaph D.14
. {H} HOU LONG HAVE GENS EEEN HEUTRON-IRRAFIATED IN BRAZILf 3 EMBASSY REQUESTED TO CONTACT DR. ELVE n0NTEIRO DE CASTRO AT INTERNATI0fiAL AFFAIRS 0FFICE OF.THE CoffISSA0
'NACIONAL DE ENERGIA NUCLEAR {CNEN} AND ASK HIS ASSISTANCE
- Ill CBTAINING THIS INFORMATION UNDER THE TERMS OF THE NRC~CfJEN TECHNICAL INFORMATION EXCHANGE AND COOPERATION ARRAldGEMENT. ALL INFORMATI0fl SHOULD BE SENT TO JOSEPH D.
LAFLEUR AT THE INTERNATI0tJAL PROGRAMS OFFICES WRC.
{LAFLEUR KNOWS DE CASTRO VERY WELL AND WOULD BE HAPPY TO ASSIST DE CASTRO FR0n THIS END IN- ANY GUESTIONS HE BAY HAVE REGARDING THIS MATTER.} YY ,
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Radioactive Blue Topaz Gems
- NRC Region I Office was notified on October 13, 1981, by an individual that radiation levels had been detected from Blue Topaz imported from Brazil.
Region I conducted several telephone inquiries into the matter. It was deterimed that several individuals had performed GM surveys and not'ed 0.2 mr/hr per stone and up to 12 mr/hr on a bag of 100 stones." Stones have been sent to Region I for analysis. International Programs contacted CNEN authorities to verify that tcpaz gems were being irradiated in a reactor in Brazil. The CNEN has confirmed to IP that topaz gems were being irradfated in the IPEN reactor in Sao Paulo based on calculations showing doses below the limits for the public. The CNEN has suspended the neutron irradiation of the topaz gems and has asked the IPEN reactor to present a more detailed report about the project, radiological protection procedures and dose evaluation. The Region I office notified IP that additional radioactive gems are showing up in the U.S.
I from other foreign countries such as West Germany and the UK. A more detailed report is being prepared on this subject and will be forwarded to the Comission as well as additional information that IP may receive from overseas.
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1 1
Radioactive Blue Topaz Gems In October 1981, NRC was notified that radiation levels had been detected from blue topaz stones imported from Brazil. IP contacted the CNEN to determine whether topaz gems were being irradiated in a reactor in Brazil.
The CNEN confirmed that topaz gems were being irradiated in the IPEN reactor in Sao Paulo, based on calculations showing that resulting doses would be below the limits for the public. However, the CNEN suspended the neutron irradiation of the topaz gems pending a more detailed report about the project.
An investigation by IPEN into this matter resulted in a November 1982 Brazilian report which stated that "the investigation committee concluded that there had been no irregular radiation nor any of an illegal character.
All radiation of topazes was done so within its research and radiation program obeying the controls of radiologic protection." (This information is an informal translation by Embassy staff of the press release on the report. For details see 1982 Brasilia 9754.)
There has been no other communication between NRC or the Embassy and CNEN officials on this subject. The Office of Investigations was made aware of the radioactive topazes and based on their evaluations of this situation, they did not recommend an investigation.
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