ML20210Q132
| ML20210Q132 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Issue date: | 03/11/1982 |
| From: | Nussbaumer D NRC OFFICE OF STATE PROGRAMS (OSP) |
| To: | Lieberman J, Martin T NRC OFFICE OF INSPECTION & ENFORCEMENT (IE REGION I), NRC OFFICE OF INSPECTION & ENFORCEMENT (IE) |
| Shared Package | |
| ML20210P695 | List: |
| References | |
| FOIA-84-936 NUDOCS 8610060901 | |
| Download: ML20210Q132 (4) | |
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jso tah UNITED STATES ff '%, NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMisslON wasmwaTow. o. c. ossa Ref: SA/J0L g
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- ..+ M l l ggg REGION I REPORT 99990001]81-24 ATTACHMENT 4 MEMORANDUM FOR: James Lieberman, Acting Director Enforcement. Staff, IE Thomas T. Martin, Director Division of Engineering and Technical Programs Region I FROM: Donald A. Nussbaumer Assistant Director for State Agreements Program Office of State Programs
SUBJECT:
ARIZONA INVESTIGATION OF IRRADIATED GEMS Enclosed for your information are copies of reports from Arizona concerning their investigations of several minei:a1 and gen shows in ;
Tucson where irradiated Topaz gems were displayed. We understand Region I has been inquiring into this matter and has been contacted -
by Arizona.
Lo.& k. oM w Donald A. Nussbaumer Assistant Director for State Agreements Program Office of State Programs
Enclosure:
As stated cc: H. Book, Region V w/ enc 1.
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" 5 GION I Topaz posMoD$ial thrent '
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.* Radi: active blue topaz has sur. Seemingly, the problem arose
- faced in New York, New Jersey and when the wrong stones were treated Texas. Some of the stones register with the wrong method.
above levels considered " safe" by the The Nuclear Regulatory Commis.
Nuclear Regulatory Commission. sion is currently studying the pro.
The affected stones apparently blem. GIA and a prominent indus.
became radioactive during the irra. trial research lab are involved in the diatiort. process which imparts their investigation.
blue. color. "Not all irradiated blue "We plan to complete our testing topaz is affected," stresses Vincent and reach some conclusions very '
Manson, director of research at the soon," says John Kinne/ men of the
- Gemological Institute of America. , NBC.--
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As Manson explains, there are two in the meantime, CIA is "automa.
, distinctly different processes for irra. tically checking all colored gems as disting blue topaz. One of these, soon as they come into the lab," says irradiation in an atomic pDe, should Ber Krashes, vice president. Several be used only on stones which have experts suggest that concerned jew.
been shown to be free of certain clers test their own blue topaz with a elements. When these elements are radiation detector. A simple geiger l present, the neutrons in the pile are counter will suffice. If one isn't absorbed into the stone and radio. avaDable, most local civG defense I activity may result.
.. agencies will have the necessary l Stones without these impurities equipment.
, j can be irradiated sefely in the atomic "It's critical that the public be
. pDe. Also, stones with these impuri- aware," says Manson. "But concern -
! ties can be liradiated safely theough , shouldn't be out of proportion until ;
gamma treatment. .
we have all of the facts."
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DR. JOSEPH L'ATLEUR '
USNRC. - VASHINTON, D.C.
IN ADDITION TO OUR TELEX OF JANUARY t 1, PLEASED TO INFORM THE .
TOLLOVING ,
A - TOPAZ GEMS VERE dNLY IRRADIATED IN' THE IPEN' REACTOR IN SA0 PAULO. ~
B - NO. ONLY TOPAZ *
. C - YES. -
D- INICI ALLY IPEN-REACTOR VAS IRRADI ATING THE TOPAZ GEMS .B.ASED ON .
THEIR CALCULATI ONS SHOVING DOSE BELOV THE , LIMITS FOR THE PUBLIC.'
HOVEVERs CNEN HAS SUSPENDED THE NEUTRON IRRADI ATION OF TOPAZ .
GEMS AND REQUIRED IPEN TO PRESENT' A MORE DETAILED REPORT ABOUT
- THE PROJECT, RADIOLOGICAL PROTECTION PROCEDURES, AND DOSE '
- EVALUATION.
i E - IPEN IS PREPARING A PROJECT, RADIOLOO2 CAL PROTECTION PROCEDURES l .
AND DOSE EVALUATION IN A FINAL REPORT THAT VILL BE SUBMITTED l
. TO CNEN. THE HAZARD EVALUATION' VILL TOLLOW THE CRITERI A ESTABLISHED BY UNSCEAR. THE FINAL CONCLUSIONS VILL BE SENT TO YOU, AFTER DUR ANALYSIS. .
T - CNEN DID NOT KNOV THE IRRADI ATED GEMS VERE EXPORTED TO THE U.S.
THE TOTAL AMOUNT OF GEMS IRRADI ATED I'N THE IPEN REACTOR VAS
. 31,804 90 CARATS, VHICH CORRESPOND TO 6,360 98 GRAMS, -
I_ .
G - VE DON' T XNOV. ,
M - THERE' VERE 16 IRRADI ATIONS IN THE PERIOD OF EIGHT MONTHS. THE '
IRRADI ATIONS VERE INITI ATED IN MAY, 1981. . .
,' REGARDS, EldfE MONTEIRO DE CASTRos CNEN/BRAZI - . .
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March 23, 1982 IP - DAILY ITEM N_T= 2E)
Radioactive Blue Topaz Gems The NRC Region I office was notified on October 13, 1981 by an individual that radiation levels had been detected from blue topaz stones imported from Brazil; the stones apparently had been irradiated in a reactor to change their color. Region I conducted several telephone inquiries into the matter. It was detennined that several individuals had performed Geiger-Mueller counter surveys and noted 0.2 mr/hr per stone and up to 12 mr/hr on a bag of 100 stones.
Region I analysis found Scandium 46 and Tantalum 182 in the stones. The hottest stone had a surface radiation reading of 0.27 mr/hr. International Programs contacted Brazil Atomic Energy Commission (CNEN) authorities to determine whether topaz gems were being irradiated in a reactor in Brazil. The CNEN has just confirmed to IP 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. 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, including radiological protection procedures and dose evaluation. The Region I office notified IP that additional radioactive gems are showing up in the U.S. from other foreign countries such as West Germany and the UK. The state of Arizona has also recently identified several gems like those analyzed by Region I at a gem show. 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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