ENS 52635
ENS Event | |
|---|---|
05:00 Mar 23, 2017 | |
| Title | Agreement State Report - Package Received with Removable Contamination |
| Event Description | The following report was received from the Texas Department of State Health Services via email:
On March 23, 2017 the radiation safety officer [RSO] from a hospital called stating a package was received from BTX Global Logistics (31x2130417) containing a Germania-Gallium generator. The device was intact and not leaking although the outside of the package had removable contamination at 21,866 dpm over a 300 cm squared area. The RSO stated she contacted the delivery service. She [the RSO] explained that the device she received wasn't leaking and the contamination may be inside their vehicle. She [the RSO] stated that the package was received at 1221 [CDT] at the hospital. Her staff confirmed the device was not leaking and the contamination was on the outside of the package. Investigation ongoing. Updates to be provided as received.
The following update was received from the Texas Department of Health Services via email: On March 23, 2017 the Radiation Safety Officer (RSO) from The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center called stating a package was received from BTX Global Logistics (31x2130417) at 1221 containing a Germania-Gallium generator. The device was intact in a package although the bottom of the package was contaminated. The highest level of contamination was 466 dpm per square cm based on 777,425 dpm over a 16 inch by 16 inch area of the box. The inside of the box was not contaminated and the generator was not leaking. The only spread of contamination from the box was onto a cart used to transport the generator from the loading dock to the lab. The cart was decontaminated. The contamination appears to be a low energy beta emitter with a short life in the 2-3 hour range. The contamination cannot be detected by a GM or scintillator probe only by the use of liquid scintillation counter. The hospital is attempting to identify the radionuclide. The Agency [Texas Department of Health Services] surveyed the transport vehicle, contents and driver for the delivery vehicle with a pancake probe for contamination on March 23, 2017. This was completed prior to understanding that it would not be detectable with available probes so today the vehicle will be surveyed with wipes. The package was picked up from Houston Intercontinental Airport on the evening of March 22, 2017 after clearing customs from a [common carrier] Aircraft flying from Germany. BTX Global Logistics picked up the package on March 22, 2017, placed it in their warehouse until it was delivered on March 23, 2017. Both times while the package was being transported in the vehicle, there were no other packages in the vehicle. There were no other deliveries of radioactive material in this vehicle over the last 2 days. The investigation is ongoing. Texas Incident #: I 9474. Notified the R4DO (Drake) and NMSS Events (Email). |
| Where | |
|---|---|
| University Of Texas Md Anderson Cancer Center Houston, Texas (NRC Region 4) | |
| License number: | 52635 |
| Organization: | Texas Dept Of State Health Services |
| Reporting | |
| Agreement State | |
| Time - Person (Reporting Time:+13.22 h0.551 days <br />0.0787 weeks <br />0.0181 months <br />) | |
| Opened: | Irene Casares 18:13 Mar 23, 2017 |
| NRC Officer: | Jeff Herrera |
| Last Updated: | Mar 24, 2017 |
| 52635 - NRC Website | |
University Of Texas Md Anderson Cancer Center with Agreement State | |
WEEKMONTHYEARENS 558642022-04-27T14:15:00027 April 2022 14:15:00
[Table view]Agreement State Teletherapy Device Failed in Shielded Position ENS 526352017-03-23T05:00:00023 March 2017 05:00:00 Agreement State Agreement State Report - Package Received with Removable Contamination ENS 509412015-03-30T22:30:00030 March 2015 22:30:00 Agreement State Agreement State Report - Irradiator Stuck Source ENS 474632011-11-17T13:00:00017 November 2011 13:00:00 Agreement State Texas Agreement State Report - Medical Event Involving Y-90 Microspheres 2022-04-27T14:15:00 | |