View source for PNO-I-97-035, on 970605,200 Mci Xenon-133 Released to Atmosphere During Performance of Experimental Therapy on Animal.Licensee Currently Investigating Cause of Event & Region I Will Continue to Monitor Licensee Actions

{{Adams
| number = ML20140D113
| issue date = 06/09/1997
| title = PNO-I-97-035:on 970605,200 Mci Xenon-133 Released to Atmosphere During Performance of Experimental Therapy on Animal.Licensee Currently Investigating Cause of Event & Region I Will Continue to Monitor Licensee Actions
| author name = Darden T, Shanbaky M
| author affiliation = NRC OFFICE OF INSPECTION &amp; ENFORCEMENT (IE REGION I)
| addressee name = 
| addressee affiliation = 
| docket = 03001325
| license number = 
| contact person = 
| document report number = PNO-I-97-035, PNO-I-97-35, NUDOCS 9706100249
| document type = PRELIMINARY NOTIFICATION OF EVENT OR OCCURRENCE (PNO,, TEXT-INSPECTION &amp; AUDIT &amp; I&amp;E CIRCULARS
| page count = 2
}}
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DCS No.                03001325060597
                           ,                                                                      Date:                     June 9. 1997 l            PA$ LIM [NARYNOTIFICATIONOFEVENTORUNUSUALOCCURRENCEPN1-97-035 l            This preliminary notification constitutes EARLY notice of events of POSSIBLE safety or l            public interest significance. The information is as initially received without j            verification or evaluation, and is basically all that is known by the Region I staff on this'date.
!            Facility: Washington Hospital Center                                  Licensee Emergency Classification:
:                                 Washington DC 20010-2975                                Notification of Unusual Event
:                                                                                         Alert
:                                                                                         Site Area Emergency General Emergency j                                                                                     X   Not Applicable 4            Docket No.               030-01325
!            License No.              08-03604-03
?
Event No.               N/A Event Location Code: MAT l            

==SUBJECT:==
XENON RELEASE INTO THE ATMOSPHERE AT WASHINGTON HOSPITAL CENTER i
l            On June 9,1997, at 12:15 p.m. . Washington Hospital Center's Radiation Safety Officer (RS0), reported to the NRC Operations Center, that on June 5. 1997, approximately 200
: 1.           millicuries of xenon-133 was released to the atmosphere during the performance of an j            experimental thera)y on an animal. This xenon was released in an experimental cardiac e            catheterization la) oratory during the xenon injection into a catheter that had been 4            placed in the animal. The xenon leaked from the injection apparatus and the research i
team, comprised of three individuals, was alerted when the xenon monitor alarm sounded,                                              l j            The research team exited the laboratory within five minutes. Their dosimetry was evaluated and their readings were 60.100 and 800 millirem, respectively. The RSO said that the individual whose reading was 800 millirem routinely performs cardiac-catheterization (activity not licensed by the NRC) and this individual's dosimeter readings in the past were as high as 800 millrem per month. The R$0 said that gas clearance time for the room is 18 minutes. The RSO stated that due to the good room ventilation and the rapid evacuation of personnel, the doses received were low.
Based on the licensee's preliminary evaluation of the event, the xenon release did not exceed the NRC release to unrestricted area limits defined in 10 CFR 20. Appendix B.
The areliminary dosimetry results also indicated that personnel radiation exposures whic1 resulted from this event were well below the regulatory limits.
The licensee is currently investigating the cause of this event and Region I will continue to monitor the licensee's actions to prevent recurrence of similar events.                                                 )
J This information is current as of 4:30 3.m.. June 9, 1997. NRC will review this                                                      ,
           ' incident during a future inspection. T1e District of Columbia has been notified.

==Contact:==
Mohamed M. Shanbaky                         Teresa H. Darden 610-337-5309                                610-337-5245
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9706100249 970609 PDR         I&E f)rb PNO-I-97-035                      PDR 1000L

DISTP.IB0 TION:
0WFN.              .                   TWFN       LST                Mail: DCD Chairman Jackson                       AEOD       PDR                       DOT:Trans only**    l Comm. Rogers                           IRM Comm. Dicus                            ACRS Comm. Diaz Comm. McGaffigan Jr.                                                                            l OCAA                                                                 NRC Ops Ctr OIF                                                                                             !
1 OCA                                    NMSS OGC                                    OIG                           INPO**
OPA                                    RES                           NSAC**
EDO                                                                                             ,
OE                                                                                              l OSP NRR** (Phone Verif: Violet Bowden 415-1168 or 415-1165)
SECY Regional Offices                RI Resident Office Licensee:
(Reactor Licensees)                    -l
   ** General list for sending PNs by FAX Region I Form 83                                                                                l (Rev. August 1996) l
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