Harold McCluskey
Encyclopedia
Harold R. McCluskey was a chemical operations technician at the Hanford
Plutonium Finishing Plant located in Washington state who is known for having survived, on April 24, 1976, exposure to the highest dose of americium
radiation ever recorded. He became known as the 'Atomic Man'.
On August 30, 1976, McCluskey, then 64, was exposed to 500 times the occupational standard for americium 241, a plutonium
byproduct, as the result of an accident in a glove box
resulting in an explosion. As nitric acid
was added to a column containing resin
and americium, the chemicals exploded, blowing out the leaded glass of the glove box
.
He was placed in isolation in the Hanford Emergency Decontamination Facility (because of risk of exposure to other individuals) for five months and underwent chelation therapy
using DTPA by Dr. Bryce Breitenstein. By 1977, his body’s radiation count had fallen by about 80 percent. When the worker returned home, friends and church members avoided him. His minister finally had to tell people it was safe to be around him. He died of unrelated causes in 1987 at age 75.
Although McCluskey largely avoided the media, Breitenstein said he sometimes accompanied the doctor when he gave lectures on the case. "He really wanted people to know what happened as long as it is rationally presented," Breitenstein said. McCluskey several times spoke in favor of developing nuclear power after the explosion, saying he saw his injuries as the result of "purely an industrial accident."
He died on August 17, 1987 of coronary artery disease.
Hanford Site
The Hanford Site is a mostly decommissioned nuclear production complex on the Columbia River in the U.S. state of Washington, operated by the United States federal government. The site has been known by many names, including Hanford Works, Hanford Engineer Works or HEW, Hanford Nuclear Reservation...
Plutonium Finishing Plant located in Washington state who is known for having survived, on April 24, 1976, exposure to the highest dose of americium
Americium
Americium is a synthetic element that has the symbol Am and atomic number 95. This transuranic element of the actinide series is located in the periodic table below the lanthanide element europium, and thus by analogy was named after another continent, America.Americium was first produced in 1944...
radiation ever recorded. He became known as the 'Atomic Man'.
On August 30, 1976, McCluskey, then 64, was exposed to 500 times the occupational standard for americium 241, a plutonium
Plutonium
Plutonium is a transuranic radioactive chemical element with the chemical symbol Pu and atomic number 94. It is an actinide metal of silvery-gray appearance that tarnishes when exposed to air, forming a dull coating when oxidized. The element normally exhibits six allotropes and four oxidation...
byproduct, as the result of an accident in a glove box
Glovebox
A glovebox is a sealed container that is designed to allow one to manipulate objects where a separate atmosphere is desired. Built into the sides of the glovebox are gloves arranged in such a way that the user can place their hands into the gloves and perform tasks inside the box without breaking...
resulting in an explosion. As nitric acid
Nitric acid
Nitric acid , also known as aqua fortis and spirit of nitre, is a highly corrosive and toxic strong acid.Colorless when pure, older samples tend to acquire a yellow cast due to the accumulation of oxides of nitrogen. If the solution contains more than 86% nitric acid, it is referred to as fuming...
was added to a column containing resin
Resin
Resin in the most specific use of the term is a hydrocarbon secretion of many plants, particularly coniferous trees. Resins are valued for their chemical properties and associated uses, such as the production of varnishes, adhesives, and food glazing agents; as an important source of raw materials...
and americium, the chemicals exploded, blowing out the leaded glass of the glove box
Glovebox
A glovebox is a sealed container that is designed to allow one to manipulate objects where a separate atmosphere is desired. Built into the sides of the glovebox are gloves arranged in such a way that the user can place their hands into the gloves and perform tasks inside the box without breaking...
.
He was placed in isolation in the Hanford Emergency Decontamination Facility (because of risk of exposure to other individuals) for five months and underwent chelation therapy
Chelation therapy
Chelation therapy is the administration of chelating agents to remove heavy metals from the body. For the most common forms of heavy metal intoxication—those involving lead, arsenic or mercury—the standard of care in the United States dictates the use of dimercaptosuccinic acid...
using DTPA by Dr. Bryce Breitenstein. By 1977, his body’s radiation count had fallen by about 80 percent. When the worker returned home, friends and church members avoided him. His minister finally had to tell people it was safe to be around him. He died of unrelated causes in 1987 at age 75.
Although McCluskey largely avoided the media, Breitenstein said he sometimes accompanied the doctor when he gave lectures on the case. "He really wanted people to know what happened as long as it is rationally presented," Breitenstein said. McCluskey several times spoke in favor of developing nuclear power after the explosion, saying he saw his injuries as the result of "purely an industrial accident."
He died on August 17, 1987 of coronary artery disease.