The following event was received by the
New York State Department of Health [the Department] via email:
On 8/15/22, the Radiation Safety Officer of NRD, LLC notified the Department that an individual may have been exposed to radioactive materials. At approximately 1145 EDT, the continuous air monitoring system located in the Rolling Room area of the Isotope Production Lab triggered an alarm. All associates immediately exited the lab per established protocol. Nasal smears were collected and accounted for all six lab personnel. With exception of one individual, all other personnel's nasal smear results were below the facility's 500 dpm [disintegrations per minute] threshold. One individual produced a nasal smear reading of 725 dpm in the left nostril and 781 dpm in the right nostril. This employee was instructed to blow their nose twice and a second nasal smear test was performed. The nasal smear readings were 27 dpm and 30 dpm respectively. Blank samples that were counted along with the nasal smears were 39 dpm and 7 dpm respectively.
The effected individual was removed from working with radioactive material and has begun a 24-hour bioassay collection. A root cause investigation into the cause of the air alarm and the positive nasal smear is underway. The air monitor filter paper was replaced and the activity displayed on the continuous air monitor system returned to normal levels, indicating that the cause of the alarm was a very short duration event.
New York Event Number: NYDOH-22-4