Kramatorsk nuclear poisoning incident
Encyclopedia
The Kramatorsk nuclear poisoning incident was a radiation accident that happened in Kramatorsk, Ukraine from 1980 to 1989 (Soviet era). In 1989, a small capsule containing highly radioactive caesium-137
was found inside the concrete wall of an apartment building, with the surface gamma-radiation exposure dose rate of 1800 R/year (therefore theorically exposing to 18 sievert a year an inhabitant that would have stayed constantly just at this point).
It is believed that the capsule, originally a part of a measurement device, was lost in the late 1970s and ended up mixed with gravel used to construct the building in 1980. Radiation sources of that type were normally used as components of radioisotope process monitoring devices. Specialists admit that the source might have dropped out of the device (most likely a level meter) and mixed with raw material later used to manufacture the panel.
Over 9 years, two families had lived in the apartment. By the time the capsule was discovered, 6 residents of the building died from leukemia
and 17 more received varying doses of radiation. The accident was detected only after the residents had requested that the level of radiation be measured in the apartment by a health physicist.
The exact address where the accident occurred is Gvardeytsiv Kantemirovtsiv Street, Building 7, Apartment 85, between apartments 85 and 52.
Caesium-137
Caesium-137 is a radioactive isotope of caesium which is formed as a fission product by nuclear fission.It has a half-life of about 30.17 years, and decays by beta emission to a metastable nuclear isomer of barium-137: barium-137m . Caesium-137 is a radioactive isotope of caesium which is formed...
was found inside the concrete wall of an apartment building, with the surface gamma-radiation exposure dose rate of 1800 R/year (therefore theorically exposing to 18 sievert a year an inhabitant that would have stayed constantly just at this point).
It is believed that the capsule, originally a part of a measurement device, was lost in the late 1970s and ended up mixed with gravel used to construct the building in 1980. Radiation sources of that type were normally used as components of radioisotope process monitoring devices. Specialists admit that the source might have dropped out of the device (most likely a level meter) and mixed with raw material later used to manufacture the panel.
Over 9 years, two families had lived in the apartment. By the time the capsule was discovered, 6 residents of the building died from leukemia
Leukemia
Leukemia or leukaemia is a type of cancer of the blood or bone marrow characterized by an abnormal increase of immature white blood cells called "blasts". Leukemia is a broad term covering a spectrum of diseases...
and 17 more received varying doses of radiation. The accident was detected only after the residents had requested that the level of radiation be measured in the apartment by a health physicist.
The exact address where the accident occurred is Gvardeytsiv Kantemirovtsiv Street, Building 7, Apartment 85, between apartments 85 and 52.