The following information was received from the
Ohio Department of Health Bureau (
ODH) of Environmental Health and Radiation Protection via email:
On 3/30/22, ODH received notification of a load that tripped radiation detectors at a scrap facility in Marion, Ohio. The load returned to point of origin in Columbus, Ohio under DOT SP OH-OH-22-014. The Originator contacted ODH on 4/4/22 to report that they had surveyed the load and isolated a device that was box shaped, perhaps 8x4x4 inches. The item reportedly pegged the facility's Ludlum 19 (5 mR/hr), and was secured in a quarantine area.
ODH staff responded to site on 4/5/22 and identified a Ronan Engineering Model RLL-1 gauge containing a 0.27 mCi Cs-137 source with a reading of 750 microR/hr on the side of the gauge. No contamination was detected. The facility will keep the device secure while disposal options are arranged. ODH will contact the manufacturer (Ronan Engineering) to attempt to identify the owner based on mode; and serial number on the device.
Ohio item number: OH220005
THIS MATERIAL EVENT CONTAINS A 'Less than Cat 3' LEVEL OF RADIOACTIVE MATERIAL
Sources that are "Less than
IAEA Category 3 sources," are either sources that are very unlikely to cause permanent injury to individuals or contain a very small amount of radioactive material that would not cause any permanent injury. Some of these sources, such as
moisture density gauges or thickness
gauges that are Category 4, the amount of unshielded radioactive material, if not safely managed or securely protected, could possibly - although it is unlikely - temporarily injure someone who handled it or were otherwise in contact with it, or who were close to it for a period of many weeks. For additional information go to
http://www-pub.iaea.org/MTCD/publications/PDF/Pub1227_web.pdf