| Accident scenario |
On March 8, 1991, a radiation incident occurred
at the gamma-ray facility located in Zagreb, Croatia. Three men (A-C) were
exposed to an unshielded 60-Co source of radiation. All three men were
radiation workers and wore thermoluminescent dosimeters (TLDs) on the left
side of their chests. The readout of TLDs was made the day of the overexposure
incident. The radiation doses were 152.67 mSv for worker A, 33.70 mSv for
worker B, and 29.70 mSv for worker C.
In the incident, three men were exposed to
gamma-radiation emitted from a 60-Co source that was unintentionally moved
from the container to the “up position.” The incident ocurred during preparation
for replenishment of 60-Co sources at the gamma-ray facility, which consists
of a cylindrical irradiator with 24 source holders of the same number of
the guiding tube of the irradiator. At the time of the incident, there
was a complete system in every other guiding tube, including the source
holder with 52 TBq (1,400 Ci) at the bottom of the container. One of the
source holders with 52 TBq (1 ,400 Ci) of 60-Co was moved from the container
to an unprotected part of the guiding tube. The exposure lasted approximately
2-5 sec. |
| Chromosomal dosimetry |
| Hematologic and chromosome aberration analysis
prior to the incident and immediately after, as well as a follow-up after
the 5th, l2th, 16th, and 75th day. |
| References |
| Milkovic-Kraus S, Kubelka D and Vekic B:
Biological monitoring of three 60-Co radiation incident victims. Am. J.
Indust. Med., 22: 243-247, 1992. |
| Chromosome aberration analysis |