Yesterday, during routine production of medical radioisotopes at ANSTO’s National Medical Cyclotron in Sydney, a small amount of radiation was released from the laboratory into surrounding work areas. This resulted in minor contamination of Cyclotron personnel.
All staff were successfully decontaminated. In addition, careful monitoring of all areas and personnel took place. No measurable dose was received, and therefore there was no impact on health.
An investigation is currently underway to find the cause of the small release, and Cyclotron radioisotope production is running normally again.
Contamination differs from radiation exposure. If clothing is ‘contaminated’, the wearer is only exposed to the radiation released from the material on the clothing. In this case, radiation levels were insignificant, and therefore no measurable dose was delivered.
Published: 12/08/2005