PNO-IV-99-033, on 990805,State of Ca,Dept of Health Svcs, Notified NRC Region IV of Incident Involving Deliberate Misuse of 15-30 Uci of P-32 by Researcher at Univ of Ca.Rso Staff Responded,Performed Addl Surveys of Lab & Office
| ML20210K929 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Issue date: | 08/06/1999 |
| From: | Mclean L, Mark Shaffer NRC OFFICE OF INSPECTION & ENFORCEMENT (IE REGION IV) |
| To: | |
| References | |
| PNO-IV-99-033, NUDOCS 9908060259 | |
| Download: ML20210K929 (2) | |
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s August 6,1999 PRELIMINARY NOTIFICATION OF EVENT OR UNUSUAL OCCURRENCE PNO-IV-99-033 This preliminary notification constitutes EARLY notice of events of POSSIBLE safety or public interest significance. The information 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 State Of Califomia Licensee Notification of Unusual Event University Of Califomia Alert Irvine,Califomia Site Area Emergency License No: CA Lic 133830 General Emergency X Not Applicable
Subject:
DELIBERATE MISUSE OF PHOSPHORUS-32 On August 5,1999, the state of Califomia, Department of Health Services (CDHS),
notified NRC Region IV of an incident involving the deliberate misuse of 0.555 - 1.110 megabecquerels (15 - 30 microcuries) of phosphorus-32 (P-32) by a researcher at the University of Califomia - Irvine (UC-1).
CDHS reported that the licensee determined that a resea& ' working at the licensee's facility had placed P-32 on a fellow researcher's chair with 1:. utention of exposing that individual to radiation. On July 2,1999, during a routine survey of a laboratory and an adjacent office area, a researcher identified contamination on her chair. The contamination was significant enough that it met the laboratory's criteria for reporting the incident to the licensee's radiation safety officer (RSO). The RSO staff responded, performed additional surveys of the laboratory and adjacent office, and ultimately bagged the chair and placed it in their radioactive waste storage area. The only other contamination found in the lab was in a fume hood. This contamination was attributed to a spill of P-32 which occurred in the hood on June 29 or June 30,1999. It was initially assumed by the licensee that this was the source of the contamination discovered on the researcher's chair.
On July 6,1999, the RSO contacted the Principle investigator of the laboratory where the contamination was discovered to discuss the possible cause(s) of the spill and to verify that all contamination had been removed. At this time, the Principal Investigator informed the RSO that a researcher who was responsible for the contamination had resigned. The l
researcher reportedly stated that he had intentionally placed the P-32 on the chair of a fellow researcher on July 1,1999.
l The RSO then contacted the campus police. In addition, the RSO staff performed additional surveys of the chair and made a preliminary dose estimate of the worker who sat in the chair. This estimate indicated that the dose to the researcher's skin was M8Y l
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l approximately 4 millisieverts (0.4 rem) based on her sitting in the chair for approximately four hours. The annual occupational dose limit to the skin is 500 millisieverts (50 rem).
- l. l The UC-l police submitted this case to the Orange County District Attorney's Office, Environmental Protection Unit, for review. The Los Angeles Federal Bureau of Investigations Office, Weapons of Mass Destruction Coordinator was contacted by CDHS and was provided with the name of the Orange County District Office contact for this case. There is a potential for media interest although none has been observed at this time.
RIV received nctification of this occurrence by telephone from the CDHS on August 5.
Region IV has informed NMSS, OSP, EDO coordinator, and the Information Assessment Team.
This information has been discussed with the state of Califomia and is current as of 5:00 p.m. (CDT) on August 5,1999.
Contact:
Mark Shaffer Linda McLean (817)860-8287 (817)860-8116 i
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