PNO-I-98-052, on 981116,Brown Univ Graduate Student Has Been Charged by Providence Police with Using Iodine 125-tainted Food to Poison Two Other Univ Students.Ri Agreement State & Has Jurisdiction Over Use of Byproduct Matl within Borders
| ML20195C480 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Issue date: | 11/16/1998 |
| From: | Duane White NRC OFFICE OF INSPECTION & ENFORCEMENT (IE REGION I) |
| To: | |
| References | |
| PNO-I-98-052, PNO-I-98-52, NUDOCS 9811170126 | |
| Download: ML20195C480 (1) | |
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NovImber 16,1998 PRELIMINARY NOTIFICATION OF EVENT OR UNUSUAL OCCURRENCE PNO-l-98-052 l 1 I This preliminary notification constitutes EARLY notice of events of POSSIBLE '
- sifety or public interest significance. The information is as initially l r
- ceiv:d without verification or evaluation, and is basically all that is
! known by Region t staff in King of Prussia, Pennsylvania on this date.
l i
Facility Licensee Emeroency Classification Brown University Notification of Unusual Event Brown University l Alert
-Providence,Rhode Island 02912 )
Site Area Emergency Dock;ts: 99990001 License No: 3K-036-01 General Emergency )
X Not Applicable '
Subj;ct: INTENTIONAL INGESTION OF IODINE-125 TAINTED FOOD A Brown University graduate student has been charged by Providence police with using iodine 125-tainted food to poison two other university stud:nts. The graduate student placed the radiciodine in a food dish and giva it to his former girlfriend. The woman's roommate also ate some of tha tainted food. The police have charged the student with poisoning, ess ult and larceny. The graduate student apparently worked in a mol cular pharmacology laboratory where radionuclides are used, but he w s not authorized to use lodine 125, a byproduct material. The iodine 125 wIs apparently secured in a locked cabinet. The police have closed th31:boratory as part of their investigation.
Brown University holds an academic research and development broad scope licensa from the Rhode Island Department of Health's Division of Occupational and Radiological Health (RIDOH). Rhode Island is an Agr ment State and has jurisdiction over the use of byproduct material within its borders.
Brown University discovered the incident when, during a routine thyroid scr ning, the female student had elevated radiation levels in her thyroid despite not using any radioiodine since September. After further invnstigation, university officials discovered the remains of the tainted food dish at the student's residence. Subsequently, the university conticted the RIDOH, the Providence police and state's Attorney General office on Thursday, November 12.
Preliminary bioassay results made by Brown University of the female stud:nt indicate a whole body dose of less than 2 rem. The roommate's dose was an order of magnitude lower. RIDOH will continue to work with local cuthorities on the criminal investigation and monitor the licens;e's actions regarding this matter.
RIDOH has been contacted and concurs with the technical content of this !
PN. The Region 1 Office of Public Affairs is prepared to respond to media inquiries.
This PN is current as of 11:00 a.m. on November 16,1998. A
.C nt:ct: D White
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