The following was received from the
Illinois Emergency Management Agency (the agency) via email:
The Agency was contacted on 5/5/22, by GE Healthcare to advise that a radiopharmaceutical package was damaged in transit and reported as lost at the carrier's facility. GE Healthcare reports the 6 inch x 6 inch package (UN2915, Type A Package, Yellow II, TI 0.1) was shipped from Arlington Heights, IL to Richland, MS on 5/3/22. The package contained a lead shielded container with 1.956 mCi of In-111 (activity at the time of shipment on 5/3/22). The package reportedly arrived in one piece at the [common carrier's] Memphis hub on 5/3/22. On 5/5/22, the carrier advised the licensee that they had found the damaged package at their Memphis hub with its inner contents missing. Dangerous Goods is currently working with the shipper and conducting a search of the facility. The package now contains approximately 1.2 mCi [of In-111].
There is no indication of intentional theft or diversion, and the contents would not be useful for illicit intent.
This matter has a 30-day reporting requirement to the US NRC. Updates will be provided as they become available.
Item Number: IL220015
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