PNO-IV-97-073, on 971218,Syncor Authorized Pharmacist Contaminated Skin & Clothing w/I-131 While Preparing Radiopharmaceutical Doses.No Attempts Have Been Made to Survey Metro Train Since Contamination Levels

PNO-IV-97-073:on 971218,Syncor Authorized Pharmacist Contaminated Skin & Clothing w/I-131 While Preparing Radiopharmaceutical Doses.No Attempts Have Been Made to Survey Metro Train Since Contamination Levels

ML20197C779
Person / Time
Site:	03033224
Issue date:	12/23/1997
From:	Linda Howell, Jonathan Montgomery NRC OFFICE OF INSPECTION & ENFORCEMENT (IE REGION IV)
To:
References
PNO-IV-97-073, PNO-IV-97-73, NUDOCS 9712240270
Download: ML20197C779 (1)

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1 December 23,1997 PREllMINARY NOTIFICATION OF EVENT OR UNUSUAL OCCURRENCE PNO IV 97-073 This preliminary notification constitutes EARLY notice of events of POSSIBLE safety or public interest significance. The inforination is as initially received without verification or evaluation, and is basically all that is known by Region IV staff in Arlington, Texas on this date.

Facility Licensee Emeroency Classification

- Syncor international Corp. Notification of Unusual Event Syncor International Corp. Alert 28 Omega Drive, Bldg. 7 Site Area Emergency Stamford, Connecticut General Emergency Dockets: 03033224 License No: 04 26507 01MD X Not Applicable

Subject:

IODINE-131 CONTAMINATION During the early evening of December 18,1997, a Syncor authorized nuclear pharmacist (ANP) contaminated his skin and clothing with lodine 131 while preparing radiopharmaceutical doses. The contamination on his hands, wrists and Jacket was not detected during a routine

- exit survey performed by the ANP Just prior to leaving the radiopharmacy to go home. The ANP traveled home via a Metro train. The following morning (December 19) the ANP retum to the radiopharmacy, again via the Metro train. After starting work on December 19 the contamination was discovered and decontamination procedures were initiated. Subsequent surveys performed at the ANP's residence revealed contamination on some household items such as bedding and tewels. These items were collected and are being held for decay at the licensee's Stamford radiopharmacy. Accordin0 to the licensee, the ANP shares his residence with four people, none of whom were found to be contaminated.

The ANP began taking the thyroid blocking agent "Thyroblock" after a thyroid bioassay performed on December 19 revealed an uptake of 0.03 microcuries of radiolodine.

Contamination levels estimated by Syncor, based on surveys performed with a GM pancake probe on December 19, were 80,000 counts per minute (0.416 microcuries) on the skin of the ANP's right wrist. Considerably lower levels were measured on his lef t wrist, hands and Jacket. The highest skin dose estimate was 5.8 rem. No attempts have been made to survey the Metro train since the contamination levels, if any, were expected to be negligible (in the nanocurie range).

The state of Connecticut will be informed. Region I has been informed and will conduct a followup inspection at the licensee's Stamford pharmacy.

Region IV received notification of this occurrence by telephone from the licensee at 2:00 p.m.(PST) December 22,1997. Region IV has informed NMSS.

' This information has been discussed with the licensee and is current as of 3:30 p.m.,

December 22,1997.

Contact:

Jim Montgomery Linda Howell I (510)975-0249 -(817)860-8213 y 1 g .- ,

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