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N0KFQ > TODAY 19.09.12 00:14l 49 Lines 2027 Bytes #999 (0) @ WW
BID : 28496_KB0WSA
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Subj: Today in History - Sep 18
Path: IZ3LSV<IV3SCP<IW0QNL<JH4XSY<JE7YGF<N9PMO<VE9MPF<N4JOA<N4ZKF<N0KFQ<
KB0WSA
Sent: 120918/2205Z 28496@KB0WSA.MO.USA.NA BPQK1.4.52
Sep 18, 1987:
Accidental poisoning in Brazil
On this day in 1987, cesium-137 is removed from an abandoned
cancer-therapy machine in Brazil. Hundreds of people were
eventually poisoned by radiation from the substance, highlighting
the danger that even relatively small amounts of radiation can
pose.
In 1985, the Goiania Institute of Radiotherapy moved to a new
location and left behind an obsolete Cesium-137 teletherapy unit
in their abandoned headquarters. The institute failed to inform
the authorities of the existence of the outdated device and the
machine sat in the building in downtown Goiania, 600 miles from
Sao Paulo, for over a year before two criminally enterprising men
removed the machine.
The men sold it to a local junkyard on September 13. Five days
later, workers at the junkyard dismantled the machine, releasing
the Cesium-137 that was still inside. Fascinated by the glowing
blue stone and completely unaware of its dangers, they
distributed pieces to friends, relatives and neighbors. The
cesium was spread around so much that contamination was later
found 100 miles away.
Days later, the junkyard owner's wife began noticing that her
friends and relatives were getting sick. When she sought medical
assistance, doctors found that they were suffering from acute
radiation poisoning. Four people eventually died from exposure,
including one child. Scores were hospitalized and more than
100,000 people in the city had to be monitored for contamination.
More than 40 homes in the city were found to have high levels of
contamination and had to be demolished. The after-effects were
also serious. Many of the citizens suffered psychologically from
their fear of contamination. In fact, fear was so widespread that
other cities shunned the people and products of Goiania following
the incident.
Following this disaster, Brazil completely overhauled their laws
regarding the storage of radiation sources.
73, K.O. n0kfq
N0KFQ @ KB0WSA.MO.USA.NA
E-mail: n0kfq@winlink.org
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