27 views 0 shares 0 comments
Created/changed by:
System
set bookmark!
Samut Prakan radiation accident, Thailand
Category: Attraction
Address details
Thetsaban Samrong Tai 6Tambon Samrong
Amphoe Phra Pradaeng
Chang Wat Samut Prakan 10130
Thailand
Tambon Samrong, Thailand Print route » N13° 39' 12" E100° 35' 25" (13.653333333333, 100.59027777778) Start navigation »
Phone & WWW
Business hours
Info
A radiation accident occurred in Samut Prakan Province, Thailand in January–February 2000. The accident happened when an insecurely stored unlicensed cobalt-60 radiation source was recovered by scrap metal collectors who, together with a scrapyard worker, subsequently dismantled the container, unknowingly exposing themselves and others nearby to ionizing radiation. Over the following weeks, those exposed developed symptoms of radiation sickness and eventually sought medical attention. The Office of Atomic Energy for Peace (OAEP), Thailand's nuclear regulatory agency, was notified when doctors came to suspect radiation injury, some seventeen days after the initial exposure. The OAEP sent an emergency response team to locate and contain the radiation source, which was estimated to have an activity of 15.7 terabecquerels (420 Ci), and was eventually traced to its owner. Investigations found failure to ensure secure storage of the radiation source to be the root cause of the accident, which resulted in ten people being hospitalized for radiation injury, three of whom died, as well as the potentially significant exposure of 1,872 people.