On February 2, 2013 an individual called the
Wisconsin Emergency Management duty officer to report found radioactive material. The duty officer notified the State Radiological Coordinator who responded to the member of the public. The individual reported that his mother had inadvertently brought home a radioactive source that had come from a donation drop-box. The source was reportedly labeled 'Radioactive
Tritium', '4 mCi' and 'Self-Powered Lighting' and dated 8-19-1992. The State Radiological Coordinator ascertained the source was safely stored in the mother's garage in a cardboard box.
State inspectors performed a site visit on February 4, 2013. The radioactive material was actually two 4 Curie tritium sources, Model CPI 300, Serial Numbers 1469 and 1470. Also, the sources were labeled NYS License Number 1406-1611 and parts P/N CAN/AC/4E.
The Radiation Protection Section contacted Self-Powered Lighting and the individual stated that this was an aircraft device and that they would accept the source back. The state inspectors surveyed, wiped, and bagged the sources. Wipes will be analyzed by the Wisconsin State Lab of Hygiene. The sources were retrieved and are currently stored at the State's orphan source storage location. If the wipes confirm no contamination, the sources will be returned to Self-Powered Lighting or an authorized recipient.
Wisconsin Report No.: WI130003